The goal of this observer-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial is to determine the effectiveness of a fully-online, parent-mediated, video-based, self-directed intervention for young children with autism (12-60 months) who have been diagnosed with autism in the last six months. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: 1. Does an online intervention for autistic children result in improved adaptive behaviour, compared to a psychoeducational control group? 2. Does an online intervention for autistic children result in reduced autism symptoms in children, and decreased stress and increased self-efficacy in parents, compared to a psychoeducational control group? 3. What are the predictors of response to intervention (i.e., child sex and age; initial autism symptoms and adaptive behavior; and parent self-efficacy, stress, and education). Parents will be given six compulsory and eight optional online modules that will teach them skills to use while interacting with their autistic children to improve social and communication behaviours and minimize behaviours that interfere with learning. The comparison group will receive six compulsory and eight optional online modules that will teach them about autism more broadly including diagnostic criteria, symptom profiles across development, etc.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
308
Parents will be provided with online access to 6 compulsory video-based modules and 8 optional video-based modules. These modules will teach them about child development, behavioural principles, and naturalistic developmental intervention principles. These modules will promote skills that parents can use to increase their child's social and communication behaviours and minimize behaviours that interfere with learning (e.g., temper tantrums).
This control intervention will provide parents with 6 compulsory and 8 optional modules that will teach them about autism and its developmental course.
Change in Adaptive Behavior
Change in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 3rd Edition Parent interview
Time frame: baseline, post-intervention (6 months past baseline), follow-up (6 months past post-intervention)
Change in Autism Symptoms
Change in Autism Impact Measure
Time frame: baseline, post-intervention (6 months past baseline), follow-up (6 months past post-intervention)
Change in Parenting Stress
Change in Parenting Stress Index, Short Form, version 4
Time frame: baseline, post-intervention (6 months past baseline), follow-up (6 months past post-intervention)
Change in Parental Self-Efficacy
Change in Early Intervention Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale
Time frame: baseline, post-intervention (6 months past baseline), follow-up (6 months past post-intervention)
Change in Language
Change in MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory
Time frame: baseline, post-intervention (6 months past baseline), follow-up (6 months past post-intervention)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.