Parent perceptions of a group telepractice communication intervention for autism

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 59 children, with early intervention being crucial for positive outcomes.
• Parent-implemented interventions enhance consistency and intensity but face barriers like provider availability and parental stress.
• Telepractice offers a solution to increase service accessibility and reduce costs, though research on group telepractice for autism is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate parent perceptions of a telepractice-delivered group intervention for autism.
• To evaluate parent and child outcomes, including parental stress levels.
• To understand parent preferences for intervention to inform future service delivery.

Main Methods:

• Eleven parents of preschool children with ASD participated in the Hanen More Than Words (HMTW) program via telepractice.
• Quantitative (Parenting Stress Index, program evaluations) and qualitative (surveys) measures were employed.
• Data analysis included descriptive statistics, paired t-tests for stress, and directed content analysis for qualitative responses.

Main Results:

• Parents reported high satisfaction with the telepractice HMTW program, citing interactive learning and individualization as key supports.
• Parents perceived increased insight into their child's behavior and their own interactions, reporting improved strategy implementation and confidence.
• No significant pre- to post-intervention changes were observed in parental stress levels, though perceived improvements in child communication and interaction were noted.

Conclusions:

• Telepractice group intervention for autism is acceptable to parents and perceived positively by both parents and children.
• This delivery model can potentially reduce service barriers and enhance access to early intervention.
• Further research on parent preferences for intervention types and delivery methods is needed to improve service engagement.