Qualitative evaluation of the Autism Behavior Inventory: use of cognitive interviewing to establish validity of a caregiver report scale for autism spectrum disorder.
Health Qual Life Outcomes
; 19(1): 26, 2021 Jan 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33472654
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The Autism Behavior Inventory (ABI) is an observer-reported outcome scale measuring core and associated features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Extensive scale development (reported elsewhere) took place, in alignment with the Food and Drug Administration's patient-reported outcome guidance, to address the need for instruments to measure change and severity of ASD symptoms.METHODS:
Cognitive interviewing was used to confirm understanding and content validity of the scale prior to its use in clinical trials. Respondents were caregivers of individuals with ASD (N = 50). Interviews used a hybrid of the "think-aloud" and verbal probing approach to assess ABI's content validity and participant understanding of the instrument, including item clarity and relevance; item interpretation; appropriateness of response scales; and clarity of instructions. Audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed for qualitative data analysis. The scale was revised based on participant feedback and tested in a second round of interviews (round 1 N = 38, round 2 N = 12).RESULTS:
In total, 67/70 items reached ≥ 90% understandability across participants. Caregivers were able to select an appropriate response from the options available and reported finding the examples helpful. Based on participant feedback, instructions were simplified, 8 items were removed, and 10 items were reworded. The final revised 62-item scale was presented in round 2, where caregivers reported readily understanding the instructions, response options, and 61/62 items reached ≥ 90% understandability.CONCLUSIONS:
Cognitive interviews with caregivers of a diverse sample of individuals with ASD confirm the content validity and relevance of the ABI to assess core and associated symptoms of ASD.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Caregivers
/
Comprehension
/
Evaluation Studies as Topic
/
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Guideline
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Health Qual Life Outcomes
Journal subject:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States