Evaluating a strengths and needs assessment for autistic adults v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating a Standardised Post-diagnostic Strengths and Needs Assessment for Autistic Adults: an Acceptability and Feasibility Study
IRAS ID
350522
Contact name
Megan Freeth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
A diagnosis of Autism does not provide enough information to plan appropriate post-diagnostic support. Autistic adults want to know what their diagnosis means for them and to have an easy way to communicate their strengths and needs to others, such as employers or educators. This study will evaluate a Strengths and Needs Assessment based on the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for Autism.
The assessment asks about personal abilities, day-to-day activities and things in the environment that may help or hinder everyday life. Completion of the assessment produces a personalised report that an Autistic adult could use to help with self-management or could share with others if they wish.
We will recruit 72 Autistic adults who have been recently diagnosed across three NHS clinical services (Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service, Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service, Cambridgeshire Lifespan Autism Spectrum Service). Of these people, 36 will be asked to complete the Strengths and Needs assessment, standardised questionnaires and continue with their standard post-diagnostic care and 36 will complete standardised questionnaires and continue with their standard post-diagnostic care. Participants will also complete measures of quality of life and mental health. Questionnaires will be completed immediately after completing the strengths and needs assessment (timepoint 1) and three months after completing the assessment (timepoint 2).
We will ask all participants what they thought about the trial procedure at timepoint 2 including what they did and did not find helpful about the assessment. We will also ask clinicians what they thought about the trial procedure. If the trial procedure and assessment is considered acceptable to Autistic adults and clinicians in this small-scale trial, this will help us to plan a large-scale trial.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0041
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion