Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: May 24, 2023
Date Accepted: Oct 14, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
SCOPE Internet-delivered Psychoeducation for Transition-aged Autistic Youth: A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Psychoeducation is a recommended first-line intervention for transition-aged autistic youth, not previously evaluated for internet-delivered format. SCOPE is an eight-week individual, internet-delivered, therapist-supported psychoeducative intervention designed with and for transition-aged autistic youth.
Objective:
The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of SCOPE – a therapist-supported internet-delivered psychoeducative programme using a three-armed pragmatic randomised controlled design.
Methods:
The internet-delivered psychoeducative programme, SCOPE, was co-developed with clinicians and autistic young adults. It contains eight autism-related modules, each with (1) a text describing the module topic, (2) four video vignettes with recurring characters who speak about their lives and perspectives on the module topic, (3) a bullet-point list of neurotypical characteristics related to the module's topic, and (4) self-reflection using three or four questions about the module topic, answered by multiple choice bullets and voluntary open-ended written comments. From 2016-2020 141 participants were block-randomised (2:1:1 ratio) to SCOPE, self-study online, or TAU conditions. The primary outcome was autism knowledge, and secondary outcomes were symptoms of mental health problems, acceptance of diagnosis and quality of life. All outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at three-month follow-up.
Results:
We found that SCOPE and self-study, but not TAU, increased autism knowledge post-intervention (primary outcome). However, the self-study participants' knowledge scores returned to baseline at the three-month follow-up. SCOPE participants retained increased autism knowledge at follow-up compared to self-study and TAU, and the increase in knowledge was not accompanied by significant changes in mental health problems at post-intervention or 3-month follow-up. SCOPE participants reported improved QoL (secondary outcome) at post-intervention and three-month follow-up compared to the combined controls.
Conclusions:
Effective internet-delivered interventions may facilitate first-line services access to individuals who are unable or unwilling to use traditional healthcare interventions or live in geographically remote locations. Clinical Trial: The study was registered at clinicaltrials.org (NCT 03665363).
Citation
