A Delphi Study Developing an Attentional Environment Checklist
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Environmental Factors Impacting Focus and Task Completion in Neurodivergent Individuals: A Delphi Study Developing an Attentional Environment Checklist
IRAS ID
367692
Contact name
Daniel Poole
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Many neurodivergent adults receive a diagnosis of autism/ADHD in adulthood, yet post-diagnostic support is often inadequate. Recent qualitative work has identified environmental factors impacting neurodivergent individuals’ attention and focus in task completion, which negatively impacts both work and recreational settings. Whilst many have developed useful workarounds, those newly diagnosed may not have yet identified what is problematic for them, risking significant consequences. Therefore, developing an audit tool/checklist which systematically identifies common environmental facilitators/barriers may be useful. A list of potential checklist items has been developed from previous research data, and reviewed by a lived experience consultant who is familiar with this data.
The present study aims to reach a consensus amongst individuals, diagnosed with autism/ADHD in adulthood, on the most commonly experienced environmental factors (items) impacting focus and task completion, through a two-round Delphi study. This will involve participants, recruited from a database of ~500 people who have expressed an interest/previously participated in research in the Sheffield Autism Research Lab, and through links with local NHS autism/ADHD diagnostic services. They will complete two online questionnaires where they will be asked to rate how important they feel it is that each item be included in the checklist. They will then be asked the same questions after a 2–3-week break, and given feedback on how everyone responded in the first round. There will also be open-ended comment boxes next to each item and a question about participants’ overall views of the checklist, which will provide qualitative data to be analysed using thematic and content analysis, exploring themes from participants’ reflections and common recommendations for how the tool should be shared/used. Items which 75% of participants agreed are important, will be included in a final checklist to be shared with neurodivergent adults, particularly those recently diagnosed.REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0305
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion