Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38816827›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2024

Utility of a virtual small group cognitive behaviour program for autistic children during the pandemic: evidence from a community-based implementation study.

Vivian Lee, Nisha Vashi, Flora Roudbarani, Paula Tablon Modica, Ava Pouyandeh, Teresa Sellitto, Alaa Ibrahim, Stephanie H Ameis, Alex Elkader, Kylie M Gray and 5 more

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Article in BMC health services research, 2024. 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

  1. Article
  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

15 authors.

Vivian LeeDepartment of Psychology, Carleton University, 214E Social Science Research Building, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada. Vivian.Lee4@Carleton.ca.
Nisha VashiDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
Flora RoudbaraniDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
Paula Tablon ModicaDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
Ava PouyandehDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
Teresa SellittoDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
Alaa IbrahimDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
Stephanie H AmeisCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
Alex ElkaderKinark Child and Family Services, 7271 Warden Ave, Markham, ON, L3R 5X5, Canada.
Kylie M GrayCentre for Education Development, Appraisal, and Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
Connor M KernsDepartment of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Meng-Chuan LaiCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
Johanna LakeCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
Kendra ThomsonDepartment of Applied Disabilities Studies, Brock University, 1812 Sir Issac Brock Way, St. Catherines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
Jonathan A WeissDepartment of Psychology, York University, 230 BSB, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutistic children often experience socioemotional difficulties relating to emotion regulation and mental health problems. Supports for autistic children involve the use of adapted interventions that target emotion regulation and social skills, alongside mental health symptoms. The Secret Agent Society Small Group (SAS: SG), an adapted cognitive behavioural program, has demonstrated efficacy through lab-delivered randomized control trials. However, research is still needed on its effectiveness when delivered by publicly funded, community-based autism providers under real-world ecologically valid conditions, especially within the context of a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to community-based supports and services for autistic children, and programs have adapted their services to online platforms. However, questions remain about the feasibility and clinical utility of evidence-based interventions and services delivered virtually in community-based settings.

methodsThe 9-week SAS: SG program was delivered virtually by seven community-based autism service providers during 2020-2021. The program included the use of computer-based games, role-playing tasks, and home missions. Caregivers completed surveys at three timepoints: pre-, post-intervention, and after a 3-month follow-up session. Surveys assessed caregivers' perception of the program's acceptability and level of satisfaction, as well as their child's social and emotional regulation skills and related mental health challenges.

resultsA total of 77 caregivers (94% gender identity females; Mean = 42.1 years, SD = 6.5 years) and their children (79% gender identity males; Mean = 9.9 years, SD = 1.3 years) completed the SAS: SG program. Caregivers agreed that the program was acceptable (95%) and were highly satisfied (90%). Caregivers reported significant reduction in their child's emotion reactivity from pre- to post-intervention (-1.78 (95% CI, -3.20 to -0.29), p = 0.01, d = 0.36), that continued to decrease after the 3-month booster session (-1.75 (95% CI, -3.34 to -0.16), p = 0.02, d = 0.33). Similarly, improvements in anxiety symptoms were observed (3.05 (95% CI, 0.72 to 5.36), p = 0.006, d = 0.39).

conclusionsAs online delivery of interventions for autistic children remains popular past the pandemic, our findings shed light on future considerations for community-based services, including therapists and agency leaders, on how best to tailor and optimally deliver virtually based programming.

trial registrationThis study has been registered with ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN98068608) on 15/09/2023. The study was retroactively registered.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderCognitive Behavioral TherapyCOVID-19AdultChildEmotional RegulationFemaleHumansMalePandemicsSARS-CoV-2AutismChildrenCommunity servicesEmotional regulationSocial skillsVirutal CBT

Identifiers

PMID38816827
PMCPMC11140895

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.