Evaluating the feasibility, fidelity, and preliminary effectiveness of a school-based intervention to improve the school participation and feelings of connectedness of elementary school students on the autism spectrum

Hodges, Amy, Cordier, Reinie, Joosten, Annette, Bourke-Taylor, Helen and Chen, Yu-Wei (2022) Evaluating the feasibility, fidelity, and preliminary effectiveness of a school-based intervention to improve the school participation and feelings of connectedness of elementary school students on the autism spectrum. PLoS ONE, 17 (6). e0269098. ISSN 1932-6203

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269098

Abstract

In My Shoes is a peer supported, teacher-led, school-based intervention that aims to improve the school participation and connectedness of students on the autism spectrum. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility, fidelity, and preliminary effectiveness of In My Shoes in mainstream elementary schools. Ten Grade 3 and 4 students on the autism spectrum and 200 of their typically developing peers across eight classrooms and six schools participated. The following aspects of feasibility were explored: recruitment capability and sample characteristics, data collection procedures and outcome measures, appropriateness, implementation, and practicality of the intervention. Fidelity was explored by evaluating the delivery of intervention components against set criteria. Preliminary effectiveness was investigated by evaluating changes in intervention outcomes pre-post intervention using a range of outcome measures. Study findings are encouraging, suggesting In My Shoes is a feasible and appropriate intervention, and shows promise in improving the self-report school engagement of all student participants, as well the classroom participation and subjective school experiences of students on the autism spectrum. Useful insights into ways the intervention and the design of future research can be improved are discussed.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Autistic Disorder, Emotions, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Schools, Students
Subjects: L500 Social Work
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Depositing User: Rachel Branson
Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2022 12:50
Last Modified: 05 Aug 2022 12:15
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/49305

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