Background and study aims:
Standardised tools (i.e. tools that have been formally researched/evaluated) are a key
part of ASD assessments. Some young people prefer online to face-to-face assessments.
Recent research indicates that some young people with ASD show fewer observable
features/symptoms of ASD but describe internal features/symptoms of ASD. At present,
there is (a) no standardised virtual/online assessment tool and (b) no standardised tool
which balances gathering information about observable features of ASD and self-reported
features of ASD. This study will begin the process of scientifically evaluating the OVAAT
(a video-based tool assessing both observable and self-reported features of ASD).
Who can participate? The study will have two groups: group 1 will be 13-18 year old young
people waiting for an autism assessment in the Oxfordshire CAMHS Neurodevelopmental
Conditions (NDC) pathway who have access to and are able to use a laptop or desktop
computer and a quiet place to complete the assessment. Group 2 will be 13-18 year old
young people with no neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions who have access to
and are able to use a laptop or desktop computer and a quiet place to complete the
assessment.
What does the study involve? Group 1: Participants will complete the OVAAT and an ADOS-2
assessment. The OVAAT is the tool that is being tested. The ADOS-2 is an existing tool
that is used to assess autism and participants would complete this as part of the
standard assessment. The OVAAT assessment will be video and audio recorded (through
Microsoft Teams) so that the investigators can check whether another clinical researcher
comes to the same conclusion as the person providing the OVAAT. The investigators will
only keep the recording until the second researcher has watched and listened to the
recording.
Group 2: Participants will complete some questionnaires that identify potential features
of autism, ADHD and common mental health problems. Participants will also meet with a
clinical researcher from the NDC team to complete the OVAAT. The OVAAT assessment will be
video and audio recorded (through Microsoft Teams) so that the investigators can check
whether another clinical researcher comes to the same conclusion as the person providing
the OVAAT. The recordings will only be kept until the second researcher has watched and
listened to the recording.
What are the possible benefits of participating? Participants will be given a £10 Amazon
voucher for taking part (for group 2, participants will need to complete the screening
measures (participants must pass the screening) and the OVAAT before receiving the
voucher. For group 1, participants will need to complete the diagnostic assessment and
the OVAAT before receiving the voucher). The investigators also hope that this study will
help to determine whether this new tool (the OVAAT) is better than existing tools at
identifying autism and give young people a better experience during their assessment.
What are the possible risks of participating? There are no significant risks to taking
part. However, the questionnaires or OVAAT could identify potential neurodevelopmental
features or symptoms of mental health problems. If this happens, participants and/or
their parents will be given information about how to access further support.
It is possible that participants confidentiality might need to be broken (e.g. if there
is a risk of significant harm to the participant or others). If this is the case, every
effort will be made to discuss this with the participant (unless this would e.g. increase
the risk of harm). If there is a significant risk of harm to the participant or someone
else, only people who need to be informed of the risk (i.e. those who can mitigate the
risk and prevent harm) will be informed (e.g. GP, emergency services, CAMHS
professionals, parents/caregivers) and they will only be provided with information
relevant to the risk. Participants (and their parents/caregivers, where appropriate) will
be informed of what information has been shared, and with whom.