Randomized trial of an eLearning program for training family members of children with autism in the principles and procedures of applied behavior analysis

Effective training of caregivers is an integral part of top-quality treatment programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, traditional caregiver training can be time consuming and costly. The development of Web-based electronic training programs (e.g., “eLearning”) may extend training to rural areas, thereby increasing accessibility and improving efficiency. The eLearning approach has been shown to be effective and efficient in various disciplines and industries, but studies evaluating eLearning programs for training parents of children with ASD are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an eLearning program for training family members of children with ASD in the principles and procedures of applied behavior analysis treatment. A total of 28 family members participated in this randomized, waitlist-controlled, between-groups study. Differences in change scores between groups were significant, with the trained group substantially outperforming the waitlist control group at post-test. The control group then received training and also demonstrated significant gains post training.

► A significant difference in knowledge of ABA was found between the eLearning group and control group following training.
► Caregivers scored 34% higher on the post-test after completing the eLearning program.
► eLearning may be an effective alternative or supplement to traditional, in-person didactic training.