Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41091357›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2025

A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Trial of the RUBI in Educational Settings Intervention With Paraeducators Supporting Autistic Students in Public Elementary Schools.

Karen Bearss, Wendy Shih, Daina M Tagavi, Yuanchen Kuo, Angel Fettig, Jill Locke

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2025. 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
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Improving the Fit of Interventions for Autism in Schools: Lessons Learned Following Paraeducator Coaching on the RUBIES Program.Journal of educational and psychological consultation : the official journal of the Association for Educational and Psychological Consultants · 2025
    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

6 authors.

Karen BearssDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. karen.bearss@catalight.org.
Wendy ShihCenter for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Daina M TagaviDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Yuanchen KuoCollege of Education, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Angel FettigCollege of Education, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Jill LockeDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Funding

UW ALACRITY Center for Psychosocial Interventions ResearchP50MH115837 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI IAN Moore BENNETT · 2018 to 2026
$18.2M
Exploring Mechanisms of Change in a Pilot Trial of the RUBI Program in Educational SettingsR34MH123598 · NIMH · SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · PI LOCKE, JILL J, TAGAVI, DAINA · 2021 to 2023
$712k
NIMH NIH HHS 1R34MH123598NIMH NIH HHS 5P50MH115837NIMH NIH HHS P50 MH115837NIMH NIH HHS R34 MH123598
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis pilot randomized study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of RUBI in Educational Settings (RUBIES), a school-based adaptation of the evidence-based Research Unit in Behavioral Intervention (RUBI) parent training program, when implemented by elementary school paraeducators supporting autistic students with externalizing behaviors that impact safety and well-being.

methodsA 24-week pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 67 paraeducators and 65 autistic students across 39 public schools in the United States. Paraeducators were randomly assigned to RUBIES or an active comparator, Psychoeducation on Autistic Students in Schools (PASS).

resultsFeasibility outcomes, including adherence to intervention strategy implementation, were high for paraeducators receiving RUBIES. Acceptability measures demonstrated strong engagement and satisfaction among paraeducators, with RUBIES paraeducators reporting significantly greater confidence in managing student behaviors compared to those who received PASS. While both groups showed reductions in externalizing behaviors, no significant differences were found between RUBIES and PASS on standardized outcome measures of student externalizing behaviors.

conclusionFindings suggest that RUBIES is a feasible and acceptable intervention for paraeducators, though further research is needed to assess its effectiveness in promoting behavioral change in autistic students at school.

Indexed as

AutismAutistic studentsBehavioral interventionParaeducatorsSchools

Identifiers

PMID41091357
PMCPMC12714176

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.