A clinical and cost-effectiveness trial of a parent group intervention to manage challenging restricted and repetitive behaviours in young children with autism spectrum disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Victoria Grahame,
Linda Dixon,
Sue Fletcher-Watson,
Deborah Garland,
Magdalena Glod,
Jane Goodwin,
Zoe Grayson,
Saoirse Heron,
Emma Honey,
Rebecca Iversen,
Adetayo S. Kasim,
Ashleigh Kernohan,
Ehsan Kharatikoopaei,
Ann Le Couteur,
Leila Mackie,
Ayesha Mathias,
Helen Probert,
Deborah Riby,
Priyanka Rob,
Leanne Rogan,
Sarah Thompson,
Luke Vale,
Eamonn Walls,
Elspeth Imogen Webb,
Christopher Weetman,
Faye Wolstenhulme,
Ruth Wood,
Jacqui Rodgers
Affiliations
Victoria Grahame
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Service (CNDS)
Linda Dixon
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Service (CNDS)
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh
Deborah Garland
National Autistic Society, North East Resource Centre
Magdalena Glod
Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Level 3, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Jane Goodwin
Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Level 3, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Zoe Grayson
Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, Child Life and Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Saoirse Heron
Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Kennedy Tower
Emma Honey
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Service (CNDS)
Rebecca Iversen
Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Kennedy Tower
Adetayo S. Kasim
Durham Research Methods Centre, Durham University
Ashleigh Kernohan
Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University
Ehsan Kharatikoopaei
Department of Anthropology, Durham University
Ann Le Couteur
Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Level 3, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Leila Mackie
Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, Child Life and Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Ayesha Mathias
Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit, Newcastle University 1-4 Claremont Terrace
Abstract Background Restricted and repetitive behaviours vary greatly across the autism spectrum, and although not all are problematic some can cause distress and interfere with learning and social opportunities. We have, alongside parents, developed a parent group based intervention for families of young children with autism, which aims to offer support to parents and carers; helping them to recognise, understand and learn how to respond to their child’s challenging restricted repetitive behaviours. Methods The study is a clinical and cost-effectiveness, multi-site randomised controlled trial of the Managing Repetitive Behaviours (MRB) parent group intervention versus a psychoeducation parent group Learning About Autism (LAA) (n = 250; 125 intervention/125 psychoeducation; ~ 83/site) for parents of young children aged 3–9 years 11 months with a diagnosis of autism. All analyses will be done under intention-to-treat principle. The primary outcome at 24 weeks will use generalised estimating equation (GEE) to compare proportion of children with improved RRB between the MRB group and the LAA group. The GEE model will account for the clustering of children by parent groups using exchangeable working correlation. All secondary outcomes will be analysed in a similar way using appropriate distribution and link function. The economic evaluation will be conducted from the perspective of both NHS costs and family access to local community services. A ‘within trial’ cost-effectiveness analysis with results reported as the incremental cost per additional child achieving at least the target improvement in CGI-I scale at 24 weeks. Discussion This is an efficacy trial to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a parent group based intervention designed to help parents understand and manage their child’s challenging RRB. If found to be effective, this intervention has the potential to improve the well-being of children and their families, reduce parental stress, greatly enhance community participation and potential for learning, and improve longer-term outcomes. Trial registration Trial ID: ISRCTN15550611 Date registered: 07/08/2018. Sponsor and Monitor: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust R&D Manager Lyndsey Dixon, Address: St Nicholas Hospital, Jubliee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT, [email protected] , Tel: 0191 246 7222
