Mother's experience of the diagnostic process of ASD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of mother's experience of the diagnostic process of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within a local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service(CAMHS) setting.
IRAS ID
191060
Contact name
Chris Inman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
191060, IRAS
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
The qualitative research study will be using an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach (Smith et al, 2009) to evaluate how mothers' experience the diagnostic process of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for their child in a local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) setting.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts; restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period and cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment or disability that children with ASD can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, while others are severely disabled (NIMH, 2016).
The relevance and importance of this research to patients, the public and healthcare professionals, is that it cannot be assumed that, as healthcare professionals, we understand the meaning from the mother's perspectives of the diagnostic process without undertaking such an evaluation. Professional support is more likely to be appropriate and improved if they accurately understand the mother's perspectives and needs.
Potential participants will be mother's of children between the ages of 5 to 16 years who have experienced a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder within the last two years during which period diagnostic processes have not altered. This age range includes the upper and lower limit of diagnosis in the local CAMHS setting. Mother's have been chosen for this study as experience demonstrates they are predominantly the parent most involved in the diagnostic process.
The data collection method will be semi-structured interviews.REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0306
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion