From the lay abstract: "This study looks at ways to improve how autism support programs are used in everyday community settings like schools and clinics. These programs are approaches that research has shown can help autistic individuals develop important skills, such as communication, social interaction, and managing behavior. Many of these are psychosocial programs, which means they focus on emotional, social, and behavioral support rather than medication or medical treatment. However, there is a challenge in implementing these interventions in real-world settings, especially in marginalized communities where services are often lacking or lower in quality. The field of implementation science helps bridge this gap by guiding and encouraging the use of evidence-based practices in community settings, aiming to reduce disparities. To better understand this, we did a scoping review that included 13 studies that used implementation science to support autism interventions. We looked at what types of strategies were used, how success was measured, and how well the programs fit into the communities where they were used. Most of the studies took place in schools and involved teachers, school staff, or caregivers of autistic children—altogether including data from 3488 participants. These studies tested different programs to improve outcomes of autistic individuals, such as social skills, communication, and behavior in schools."
June
2025
Lee, J. D., Terol, A. K., Tschida, J. E., Pomales-Ramos, A., McEathron, S., Wallisch, A., & Boyd, B. (2025). Examining the use of implementation science in autism intervention research: A scoping review. Autism. Advance online publication. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613251351344
10.1177/13623613251351344