Adaptation and adaptability survey of the RUBI-PT program for autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Objective·To explore the adaptation and adaptability of RUBI-PT (the Research Units in Behavioral Intervention Autism Network Parent Training) program in China.Methods·According to the four steps of cultural adaptation, the RUBI-PT program was adapted, including information collection, preliminary adaptation design, preliminary adaptation test and further adjustment. In the information collection phase, six pediatricians and two psychotherapists were invited to conduct six focus group interviews, and according to the expert opinions, the RUBI-PT program was preliminarily adapted from the aspects of language, treatment format and treatment setting. In the preliminary adaptation test phase, 16 parents of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children were recruited and divided into two batches to participate in the online RUBI-PT. After the treatment, the project feedback questionnaires were collected, and the adaptability was investigated and analyzed. Finally, the scheme was further adjusted according to the test results.Results·The preliminary adaptation program of RUBI-PT was adjusted from individual training to group training, including eight core skills sessions, which were implemented in the form of online meetings. The preliminary test results showed that parents′ satisfaction with lesson progress, lesson process, completion of homework and comments to homework were 90%, 80%, 100% and 100%, respectively; in terms of the course difficulty, parents reported that the 7th session (functional communication training) and the 8th session (teaching skills) were the most difficult. Based on the above survey results and the opinions of the expert group, further adjustments were completed, and an adaptation program for localized RUBI-PT was ultimately formed.Conclusion·After adaptation and adaptability investigation, the RUBI-PT, which is suitable for Chinese families with ASD children to conduct behavioral parent training, has been formed.

Keywords

• autism spectrum disorder (asd)
• behavioral parent training (bpt)
• the research units in behavioral intervention autism network parent training (rubi-pt)
• cultural adaptation
• adaptive survey