Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33390188›Full record

ArticlePilot and feasibility studies2021

Evaluating 'Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication impairments' (E-PLAYS): a feasibility cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Suzanne Murphy, Victoria Joffe, Louisa Donald, Jessica Radley, Sailaa Sunthararajah, Charlie Welch, Kerry Bell, David Messer, Sarah Crafter, Caroline Fairhurst and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 27% 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. 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

13 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Suzanne MurphyInstitute of Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, University Square, Luton, LU1 3JU, UK. Suzanne.murphy@beds.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9246-7756
Victoria JoffeUniversity of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
Louisa DonaldInstitute of Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, University Square, Luton, LU1 3JU, UK.
Jessica RadleyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.
Sailaa SunthararajahResearch and Development Office, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, Ilford, IG3 8XJ, UK.
Charlie WelchDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, UK.
Kerry BellDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, UK.
David MesserEducation & Language Studies, Faculty of Wellbeing, Open University, Walton Hall, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
Sarah CrafterSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Open University, Walton Hall, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
Caroline FairhurstDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, UK.
Belen CorbachoDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, UK.
Sara RodgersDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, UK.
David TorgersonDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, UK.
University of York · GBThe Open University · GBUniversity of Bedfordshire · GBNorth East London NHS Foundation Trust · GBUniversity of Essex · GBWarneford Hospital · GB

Funding

National Institute for Health Research PB-PG-0416-20035
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis article reports the results from a feasibility study of an intervention ('E-PLAYS') aimed at supporting children who experience difficulties with social communication. E-PLAYS is based around a dyadic computer game, which aims to develop collaborative and communication skills. A pilot study found that when E-PLAYS was delivered by researchers, improvements on communication test scores and on collaborative behaviours were observed. The aim of this study was to ascertain the feasibility of running a full-scale trial to test the effectiveness of E-PLAYS in a National Health Service (NHS) setting with delivery by speech and language therapists and teaching assistants.

methodsThe study was a two-arm feasibility cluster-randomised controlled trial of the E-PLAYS intervention with a treatment as usual control arm. Data relating to recruitment and retention, treatment fidelity, acceptability to participants, suitability of outcomes and feasibility of collecting health economic measures and of determining cost-effectiveness were collected. Speech and language therapists selected suitable children (ages 4-7 years old) from their caseload. E-PLAYS intervention (experimental group) was then delivered by teaching assistants overseen by speech and language therapists. The control group received usual care. Assessments included blinded language measures and observations, non-blinded teacher-reported measures of peer relations and classroom behaviour and non-blinded parent-reported use of health and education resources and quality of life.

resultsPlanned recruitment was for 70 children, in the event, 50 children were recruited which was sufficient for feasibility purposes. E-PLAYS was very highly rated by children, teaching assistants and speech and language therapists and treatment fidelity did not pose any issues. We were able to collect health economic data which suggests that E-PLAYS would be a low-cost intervention.

conclusionBased on recruitment, retention and adherence rates and our outcome measures, a full-scale randomised controlled trial estimated appears feasible and warranted to assess the effectiveness of E-PLAYS for use by the NHS and schools.

trial registrationISRCTN 14818949 (retrospectively registered).

Indexed as

Communication impairmentComputer gameFeasibility studyPeer collaborationPragmatic languageRandomised controlled trialSocial communicationYoung children

Identifiers

PMID33390188
PMCPMC7780650
OpenAlexW3119818809

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.