Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the WHO Caregiver Skills Training in Public Health Services in Italy.
Erica SalomoneMichele SettanniHelen McConachieKatharine SumaFederica FerraraGiulia FolettiArianna Salandinnull nullChiara ServiliLauren B AdamsonPublished in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders (2021)
Parents of children with ASD (N = 86; mean age 44.8 months; 67 boys) were randomized to either WHO Caregiver Skills Training (CST) delivered in public health settings in Italy or enhanced treatment-as-usual. Primary blinded outcomes were 3-months post-intervention change scores of autism severity and engagement during caregiver-child interaction. CST was highly acceptable to caregivers and feasibly delivered by trained local clinicians. Intention-to-treat analysis showed a large and significant effect on parent skills supporting joint engagement and a smaller significant effect on flow of interaction. Expected changes in child autism severity and joint engagement did not meet statistical significance. Analysis of secondary outcomes showed a significant effect on parenting stress, self-efficacy, and child gestures. Strategies to improve the effectiveness of CST are discussed.
Keyphrases
- randomized controlled trial
- public health
- autism spectrum disorder
- mental health
- study protocol
- social media
- intellectual disability
- palliative care
- healthcare
- primary care
- type diabetes
- young adults
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- double blind
- adipose tissue
- skeletal muscle
- weight loss
- working memory
- insulin resistance
- metabolic syndrome
- phase ii