The Characteristics and Results of Parent Training Interventions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder:  A Systematic Review

Seyed Hasan Tabatabaei; Hassan  Shahrokhi; Kamal  Gholipour; Shabnam  Iezadi; Ramin  Rezapour; Deniz  Naghibi; Saber  Azami-Aghdash

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i3.8927

Seyed Hasan Tabatabaei School Counselor, District 1 Karaj, Ministry of Education, Karaj, Iran
Hassan Shahrokhi Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Kamal Gholipour Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Shabnam Iezadi Hospital Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ramin Rezapour Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Deniz Naghibi Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Saber Azami-Aghdash Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i3.8927

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Effectiveness; Interventions; Parents training; Systematic review

Abstract

Background: The role of parents in taking care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is critical. This systematic review aimed to investigate the characteristics and results of parent training interventions for autistic children.

Methods: All relevant studies were searched using Boolean operators such as "AND" and "OR" with the keywords such as “Autism Spectrum Disorders,” “Autism,” “Autistic disorder,” “Asperger syndrome,” “Rett’s syndrome”, “Childhood disintegrative disorder”, “Non-specific pervasive disorder”, Parent*, Education*, train*, teach*, indoctrinate*, and instruct* in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Web of knowledge, and also via manual searching in relevant journals, checking the reference list of articles, expert contact, and grey literature from 1 Jan 2000 to 30 Feb 2020. The retrieved studies were screened and reviewed then quality assessed by CONSORT checklist. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis method.

Results: Eventually, 53 articles were considered in which 1758 parents with autistic children participated. Overall, 49 studies were conducted in high-income countries, 19 at home, 25 in training centers, 14 carried out only in training way, 39 in training along with practices and assignments, 30 individual interventions, and 21 in groups. Moreover, the effectiveness of interventions was studied in both parents and children groups. The results for parents show direct and indirect favorable impacts of interventions on them. The results for the children indicate direct and indirect favorable effects of the parents-based interventions on the child and the symptoms of their disorder.

Conclusion: According to the included studies, parents-based training interventions significantly impact parents and their children's behavior.