Study protocol in children on the autism spectrum

Longitudinal trajectory methods, featuring outcome assessments at three or more time points, are used as appropriate approaches for understanding the developmental pathways of people on the autism spectrum across the lifespan. Apprehending the scope of this rapidly expanding body of research can help advise future trajectory studies and identify areas for potential meta-analysis as well as crucial evidence gaps.

A recent study protocol states that it aims to identify and summarise the scope of research that uses a longitudinal trajectory study design to examine development in children diagnosed with autism. It will specifically identify well-characterized outcome domains and age intervals, areas of further research, and the historical use of various longitudinal trajectory analytical approaches.

The study will outline the methods for the proposed scoping review according to the framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley, with subsequent clarifications and enhancements by other authors. The study will explore six databases for relevant publications, using a search strategy developed by a medical librarian. It will screen Titles and abstracts for duplicates, followed by full-text screening. It will also chart relevant data using data extraction fields developed predominantly a priori from a set of guiding subquestions. The findings will include quantitative aggregate summaries, narrative summaries, and appraisal of trajectory studies according to the set methodological subquestions. Further, autistic self-advocate and parent-caregiver stakeholders will help facilitate the interpretation of the findings.

This review will not require Research ethics approval. Its results will be available for the researchers, care professionals, policy-makers, and stakeholder audiences at local and international conferences and other dissemination activities and will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Source: BMJ Open. 2021 Nov 22;11(11):e053443. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053443. PMID: 34810191; PMCID: PMC8609941.