Autism Spectrum Social Stories In Schools Trial 2 (ASSSIST2): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial analysing clinical and cost-effectiveness of Social Stories™ in primary schools

• Published in: BMC Psychology Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 1 - 60
• Main Authors: Wright, B, Teige, C, Watson, J, Hodkinson, R, Marshall, D, Varley, D, Allgar, V, Mandefield, L, Parrott, S, Kingsley, E, Hargate, R, Mitchell, N, Ali, S, McMillan, D, Wang, H, Hewitt, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 12.06.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Autism; Autism Spectrum conditions; Behavior disorders; Case studies; Child & adolescent mental health; Child mental health; Children & youth; Classrooms; Cost analysis; Education; Elementary school students; Elementary schools; Feasibility studies; Intervention; Learning; Mental health; Professionals; School based interventions; Social stories; Study Protocol; Teachers; Teams
• ISSN: 2050-7283; 2050-7283
• DOI: 10.1186/s40359-020-00427-z

A multi-site pragmatic cluster RCT comparing care as usual with Social Stories[TM] and care as usual. This study will recruit 278 participants (aged 4-11) with a clinical diagnosis of ASC, currently attending primary school in the North of England. Approximately 278 school based staff will be recruited to provide school based information about participating children with approximately 140 recruited to deliver the intervention. The study will be cluster randomised by school. Potential participants will be screened for eligibility prior to giving informed consent. Follow up data will be collected at 6 weeks and 6 months post randomisation and will assess changes in participants' social responsiveness, goal based outcomes, social and emotional health. The primary outcome measure is the Social Responsiveness Scale Second Edition (SRS-2) completed by school based staff at 6 months. Approvals have been obtained from the University of York's Research Governance Committee, Research Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority. Study results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to participating families, educational staff, local authority representatives, community groups and Patient and Participant Involvement representatives. Suggestions will be made to NICE about treatment evidence dependent on findings. This study addresses a much used but currently under researched intervention and results will inform school based support for primary school children with a diagnosis of ASC.