Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Controlled Feasibility Study

Helena Sehlin; Britt Hedman Ahlström; Ingrid Bertilsson; Gerhard Andersson; Elisabet Wentz

doi:10.2196/19658

Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Controlled Feasibility Study

Helena Sehlin, Britt Hedman Ahlström, Ingrid Bertilsson, Gerhard Andersson, Elisabet Wentz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience obstacles in traditional health care situations due to difficulties associated with their impairment.

OBJECTIVE: This controlled study aims to investigate the feasibility of an internet-based support and coaching intervention (IBSC), including 2 weekly chat sessions and 2 complementary clinic visits with coaches over the course of 8 weeks, for adolescents and young adults with ADHD and/or ASD in 2 naturalistic routine care settings.

METHODS: Individuals with ADHD and/or ASD aged 15-32 years were recruited in 2 clinical settings, where they received either IBSC (n=24) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=20). Outcome measures included self-report questionnaires assessing quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment for Quality of Life), sense of coherence (Sense Of Coherence 29), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self-reported, respectively).

RESULTS: Significant between-group effects were observed in measures of anxiety (HADS) at postintervention (P=.02) as well as at the 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Significant between-group effects were also noted for depressive symptoms (HADS) postintervention (P=.04). The between-group effects were partially explained by a deterioration in the TAU group. A significant increase in self-esteem (P=.04) as well as a decrease in anxiety (P=.003) at the 6-month follow-up was observed in the intervention group following IBSC. Findings from a qualitative study of the intervention are consistent with the results.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that IBSC holds promise as a feasible complement or alternative to traditional face-to-face health care meetings.

Original language	English
Article number	e19658
Journal	Journal of Medical Internet Research
Volume	22
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2196/19658
Publication status	Published - 2020 Dec 31
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

©Helena Sehlin, Britt Hedman Ahlström, Ingrid Bertilsson, Gerhard Andersson, Elisabet Wentz. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 31.12.2020.

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Psychiatry

Free keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Ambulatory Care/standards
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/therapy
Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Internet
Male
Qualitative Research
Quality of Life/psychology
Social Support
Young Adult

Access to Document

10.2196/19658Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Controlled Feasibility Study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience obstacles in traditional health care situations due to difficulties associated with their impairment.OBJECTIVE: This controlled study aims to investigate the feasibility of an internet-based support and coaching intervention (IBSC), including 2 weekly chat sessions and 2 complementary clinic visits with coaches over the course of 8 weeks, for adolescents and young adults with ADHD and/or ASD in 2 naturalistic routine care settings.METHODS: Individuals with ADHD and/or ASD aged 15-32 years were recruited in 2 clinical settings, where they received either IBSC (n=24) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=20). Outcome measures included self-report questionnaires assessing quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment for Quality of Life), sense of coherence (Sense Of Coherence 29), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and Montgomery-{\AA}sberg Depression Rating Scale-Self-reported, respectively).RESULTS: Significant between-group effects were observed in measures of anxiety (HADS) at postintervention (P=.02) as well as at the 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Significant between-group effects were also noted for depressive symptoms (HADS) postintervention (P=.04). The between-group effects were partially explained by a deterioration in the TAU group. A significant increase in self-esteem (P=.04) as well as a decrease in anxiety (P=.003) at the 6-month follow-up was observed in the intervention group following IBSC. Findings from a qualitative study of the intervention are consistent with the results.CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that IBSC holds promise as a feasible complement or alternative to traditional face-to-face health care meetings.",

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author = "Helena Sehlin and {Hedman Ahlstr{\"o}m}, Britt and Ingrid Bertilsson and Gerhard Andersson and Elisabet Wentz",

note = "{\textcopyright}Helena Sehlin, Britt Hedman Ahlstr{\"o}m, Ingrid Bertilsson, Gerhard Andersson, Elisabet Wentz. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 31.12.2020.",

year = "2020",

month = dec,

day = "31",

doi = "10.2196/19658",

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Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Controlled Feasibility Study. / Sehlin, Helena; Hedman Ahlström, Britt; Bertilsson, Ingrid et al.
In: Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol. 22, No. 12, e19658, 31.12.2020.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism

T2 - Controlled Feasibility Study

AU - Sehlin, Helena

AU - Hedman Ahlström, Britt

AU - Bertilsson, Ingrid

AU - Andersson, Gerhard

AU - Wentz, Elisabet

N1 - ©Helena Sehlin, Britt Hedman Ahlström, Ingrid Bertilsson, Gerhard Andersson, Elisabet Wentz. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 31.12.2020.

PY - 2020/12/31

Y1 - 2020/12/31

N2 - BACKGROUND: Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience obstacles in traditional health care situations due to difficulties associated with their impairment.OBJECTIVE: This controlled study aims to investigate the feasibility of an internet-based support and coaching intervention (IBSC), including 2 weekly chat sessions and 2 complementary clinic visits with coaches over the course of 8 weeks, for adolescents and young adults with ADHD and/or ASD in 2 naturalistic routine care settings.METHODS: Individuals with ADHD and/or ASD aged 15-32 years were recruited in 2 clinical settings, where they received either IBSC (n=24) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=20). Outcome measures included self-report questionnaires assessing quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment for Quality of Life), sense of coherence (Sense Of Coherence 29), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self-reported, respectively).RESULTS: Significant between-group effects were observed in measures of anxiety (HADS) at postintervention (P=.02) as well as at the 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Significant between-group effects were also noted for depressive symptoms (HADS) postintervention (P=.04). The between-group effects were partially explained by a deterioration in the TAU group. A significant increase in self-esteem (P=.04) as well as a decrease in anxiety (P=.003) at the 6-month follow-up was observed in the intervention group following IBSC. Findings from a qualitative study of the intervention are consistent with the results.CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that IBSC holds promise as a feasible complement or alternative to traditional face-to-face health care meetings.

AB - BACKGROUND: Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience obstacles in traditional health care situations due to difficulties associated with their impairment.OBJECTIVE: This controlled study aims to investigate the feasibility of an internet-based support and coaching intervention (IBSC), including 2 weekly chat sessions and 2 complementary clinic visits with coaches over the course of 8 weeks, for adolescents and young adults with ADHD and/or ASD in 2 naturalistic routine care settings.METHODS: Individuals with ADHD and/or ASD aged 15-32 years were recruited in 2 clinical settings, where they received either IBSC (n=24) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=20). Outcome measures included self-report questionnaires assessing quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment for Quality of Life), sense of coherence (Sense Of Coherence 29), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self-reported, respectively).RESULTS: Significant between-group effects were observed in measures of anxiety (HADS) at postintervention (P=.02) as well as at the 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Significant between-group effects were also noted for depressive symptoms (HADS) postintervention (P=.04). The between-group effects were partially explained by a deterioration in the TAU group. A significant increase in self-esteem (P=.04) as well as a decrease in anxiety (P=.003) at the 6-month follow-up was observed in the intervention group following IBSC. Findings from a qualitative study of the intervention are consistent with the results.CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that IBSC holds promise as a feasible complement or alternative to traditional face-to-face health care meetings.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Ambulatory Care/standards

KW - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/therapy

KW - Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy

KW - Feasibility Studies

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Internet

KW - Male

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Quality of Life/psychology

KW - Social Support

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.2196/19658

DO - 10.2196/19658

M3 - Article

C2 - 33382381

SN - 1438-8871

VL - 22

JO - Journal of Medical Internet Research

JF - Journal of Medical Internet Research

IS - 12

M1 - e19658

ER -

Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Controlled Feasibility Study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Free keywords

Access to Document

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