Journal article
Effectiveness of community-based early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis
Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, v 60(11), pp 1200-1209
01 Nov 2019
PMID: 31206690
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background
Research trials of early intervention (EI) programs for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) generally demonstrate medium-to-large gains, on average, compared with “treatment as usual,” in different developmental domains. Almost all children with ASD receive their treatment through community-based services, however, and studies suggest that evidence-based interventions rarely make their way into community practice. Understanding the effectiveness of community-based EI and factors associated with these effects is the first step in developing strategies for wide-scale implementation of effective EI.
Methods
Studies of community-based EI for children with ASD were identified through a systematic search. Changes in cognitive, communication, social, and adaptive functioning from pre-treatment to post-treatment were assessed using standardized mean gain scores. Effect sizes were estimated using random effects models. Moderators of interest included type of community EI program, year of publication, intervention duration, and sample selection. Moderator effects were assessed using analysis of variance of mixed-effects models and meta-regression analyses.
Results
Forty-six groups from 33 studies met inclusion criteria (1,713 participants, mean age 37.4 months, 81.1% male). There were small but statistically significant gains in each of the four domains. Hedges's g ranged from 0.21 for adaptive behavior to 0.32 for communication outcomes, after removing outliers and correcting for publication bias. EI programs associated with universities and hospitals were superior, on average, to other community EI programs for cognitive and adaptive behavior outcomes. Intervention duration was negatively associated with effect sizes for communication and adaptive behavior outcomes.
Conclusions
These results indicate that there remains a large gap between outcomes observed in community settings and those reported in efficacy trials.
Metrics
1 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Effectiveness of community-based early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis
- Creators
- Allison S. Nahmias (Corresponding Author) - University of California, DavisMelanie Pellecchia - University of PennsylvaniaAubyn C. Stahmer - University of California, DavisDavid S. Mandell - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, v 60(11), pp 1200-1209
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- Autism Speaks (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000073) Institute of Education Sciences (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100005246) 8874 / Autism Speaks (100000073) R305B090015 / Institute of Education Sciences (100005246) U.S. Department of Education (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000138) University of Pennsylvania (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100006920) 305B090015 / U.S. Department of Education (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000138) 8874 / Autism Speaks (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000073)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000490004400007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85067489170
- Other Identifier
- 991022168555804721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Psychology, Developmental