Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31973713›Full record

ArticleTrials2020

Point OutWords: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a motor skills intervention to promote communicative development in non-verbal children with autism.

Ailbhe McKinney, Kathryn L Hotson, Alicia Rybicki, Emma J L Weisblatt, Claudia Días, Juliet Foster, Sofía S Villar, Suzanne Murphy, Matthew K Belmonte

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 38% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Ailbhe McKinneyDivision of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK. ailbhe.mc-kinney@ucdconnect.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8834-6863
Kathryn L HotsonDivision of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Alicia RybickiSchool of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Emma J L WeisblattDepartment of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Claudia DíasPeterborough Integrated Neurodevelopmental Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Peterborough, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2707-0570
Juliet FosterInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Sofía S VillarMRC Biostatistics Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7755-2637
Suzanne MurphyInstitute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9246-7756
Matthew K BelmonteDivision of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4633-9400
Nottingham Trent University · GBUniversity of Cambridge · GBCambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust · GBKing's College London · GBUniversity of Bedfordshire · GBUniversity of Birmingham · GB

Funding

Department of Health PB-PG-0816-20019Medical Research Council MC_UU_00002/15Research for Patient Benefit Programme PB-PG-0816-20019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPoint OutWords is a caregiver-delivered, iPad-assisted intervention for non-verbal or minimally verbal children with autism. It aims to develop prerequisite skills for communication such as manual and oral motor skills, sequencing, and symbolic representation. This feasibility trial aims to determine the viability of evaluating the clinical efficacy of Point OutWords. METHODOLOGY: We aim to recruit 46 non-verbal or minimally verbal children with autism and their families, approximately 23 per arm. Children in the intervention group will use Point OutWords for half an hour, five times a week, for 8 weeks. Children in the control group will have equal caregiver-led contact time with the iPad using a selection of control apps (e.g. sensory apps, drawing apps). Communication, motor, and daily living skills are assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Parents will keep diaries during the intervention period and will take part in focus groups when the intervention is completed. DISCUSSION: Point OutWords was developed in collaboration with children with autism and their caregivers, to provide an intervention for a subgroup of autism that has been historically underserved. As autism is a heterogeneous condition, it is unlikely that one style of intervention will address all aspects of its symptomatology; the motor skills approach of Point OutWords can complement other therapies that address core autistic symptoms of social cognition and communication more directly. The current feasibility trial can inform the selection of outcome measures and design for future full-scale randomised controlled trials of Point OutWords and of other early interventions in autism.

trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN12808402. Prospectively registered on 12 March 2019.

Indexed as

CommunicationComputers, HandheldMobile ApplicationsMotor SkillsAdolescentAutistic DisorderChildChild, PreschoolCommunication DisordersFeasibility StudiesHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAutism spectrum disorderCommunicationFeasibilityiPadLanguageMinimally verbalMotorNon-verbalRandomised controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID31973713
PMCPMC6979327
OpenAlexW3000984486

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.