A Telehealth Programme for the Treatment of Eating/Feeding Problems in Children on the Autism Spectrum

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Neurological - Other neurological disorders; Diet and Nutrition - Other diet and nutrition disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Mental Health - Autistic spectrum disorders; Parent-reported eating/feeding problems.

• Registration Number: ACTRN12621001424897
• Lead Sponsor: Associate Professor Laurie McLay

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2021-10-21
• Last Update Posted: 26 October 2021

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot yet recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

Participants will include a minimum of 15 parent-child dyads who meet the following inclusion criteria: (1) a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or features of ASD (i.e., awaiting diagnosis); (2) between 2 and 5 years of age; (3) parent-reported eating/feeding problems; (4) absence of a physical/medical condition affecting that may make implementation of a behavioural intervention unsafe and are not being effectively managed; and (5) not currently receiving services in the target domain.

Exclusion Criteria

Children will be excluded from the study if they are currently under the care of a paediatrician or dietician with respect to eating/feeding as these children are likely to have nutritional concerns or feeding difficulties that require a more comprehensive intervention (e.g., presence of a feeding tube, prescription for specialised formula). If in doubt, we will consult with the specialist providing this medical care, to determine the safety and suitability of the programme.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Eating/feeding behaviour will be assessed using a parent-recorded diary specifically designed for this study. [Diaries will be collected daily over a period of 5, 10, or 15 days at baseline (depending on randomly assigned baseline length), throughout treatment (daily for 12 weeks) and for one week during short.- and long-term follow-up; 3 months and 6 months post-intervention completion, respectively. ];Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory - a measure of children's mealtime behaviour. [Administered once during baseline, once immediately upon conclusion of treatment, and once at short-term follow-up (3 months post-treatment). ];Photographs of children's dinner plates will be provided before and after mealtime to assess the amount of food that has been consumed. [Photographs of children's dinner plates will be provided daily for five days during baseline, the final five days of intervention sub-phases 1, 2, and 3, and for five days during short- and long-term follow-up. ]