Improving Access to Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) Via Telehealth Parent Training

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: Improving Access to Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) Via Telehealth Parent Training

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

There is an urgent need for improved access to effective autism treatments. With advances in technology, distance learning models have particular promise for families who cannot access evidence-based parent training locally or may be on long wait-lists for behavioral treatments. Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is an established treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, a telehealth PRT model has not yet been evaluated in a controlled trial. This study will examine the effects of training parents in PRT via secure video conferencing and investigate 1) whether parents can learn via telehealth to deliver PRT in the home setting (PRT-T) and 2) whether their children will show greater improvement in functional communication skills compared to children in a waitlist control group. Participants will include 40 children age 2 to 5 years with ASD and significant language delay. Eligible children will be randomly assigned to either PRT-T (N=20) or waiting list (N=20). Weekly 60-minute parent training sessions will be delivered for 12 weeks via secure video conferencing software by a PRT-trained study therapist. The effects of PRT-T on parent fidelity of PRT implementation, child communication deficits including frequency of functional verbal utterances, and parent-report of communication skills on standardized questionnaires will be evaluated. This research will provide a foundation for wider dissemination of technology-based solutions to improve access to ASD treatment.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• NCT number: NCT04042337
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Stanford University
• Contact: Estefania Millan
• Phone: 6507361235
• Email: mmillan2@stanford.edu
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: April 13, 2020
• Completion date: December 31, 2025