Using Mobile Technology to Reduce Stereotypy

September 24, 2019 updated by: Marc Lanovaz, Université de Montréal

Using Mobile Technology to Reduce Stereotypy in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Nearly all children with autism spectrum disorders engage in non-functional repetitive vocal and motor behaviours commonly referred to as stereotypy. These repetitive behaviours may considerably interfere with the child's daily functioning, learning, and social inclusion. As such, stereotypy generally has a negative impact on the child and family's health and quality of life. Several behavioural interventions have been developed to reduce engagement in stereotypy in children with autism spectrum disorders, but the limited number of specialists available, the long waiting lists associated with public health services in Canada, and the high costs of private services have considerably restricted accessibility. One potential solution to the limited availability and high costs of services is using a mobile application to recommend, teach, and monitor interventions designed to reduce engagement in stereotypy. To this end, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of the iSTIM (i.e., individualized Stereotypy Treatment Integrated Modules), a mobile application designed to assist parents in reducing stereotypy in children with autism spectrum disorders. Specifically, we will assess whether the iSTIM correctly estimates the frequency or duration of stereotypy, offers suggestions consistent with recommended clinical practices, effectively reduces engagement in stereotypy, and is socially acceptable, safe, and easy to use for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. The results of the study will allow us to determine whether the mobile application may be used to treat this core symptom in children with autism spectrum disorders, which could potentially reduce waiting times and costs of providing health services to this population. By reducing engagement in stereotypy, the iSTIM may also promote and facilitate the social participation as well as improve the quality of life and health of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

39

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Ontario
      • Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5L 5Y6
        • Monarch House
    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H8R 2H1
        • CRDITED de Montréal
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada
        • Gold Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

No older than 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders
  • Must engage in at least one form of stereotypy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Stereotypy occurs less than 12 times per hour (or less than 20% of time)
  • The form of stereotypy is potentially dangerous for the person (e.g., head banging, self-biting)
  • The form of stereotypy is maintained by social consequences (e.g., attention, task avoidance)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Mobile application
Use of the iSTIM mobile application 2 to 4 times per week over approximately 8 to 16 weeks
Trained research assistants and parents will implement the assessments and interventions recommended by the iSTIM mobile application during sessions lasting between 10 and 60 minutes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frequency and duration of stereotypy
Time Frame: 2 to 4 times per week over 8 to 16 weeks
Direct observation of the frequency and duration of stereotypy during 10- to 60-minute sessions
2 to 4 times per week over 8 to 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Social validity score
Time Frame: Immediately following the end of the intervention (i.e., after 8 to 16 weeks)
The user responds to a social validity questionnaire
Immediately following the end of the intervention (i.e., after 8 to 16 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Marc J Lanovaz, Ph.D., Université de Montréal

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

December 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 24, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 24, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

April 28, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 26, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 24, 2019

Last Verified

September 1, 2019

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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