Content Validity of the Parentship Protocol: A Multidimensional Intervention for Parents of Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The Parentship protocol is a short-term intervention program in occupational therapy for parents of adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD). Its purpose is to promote parental resilience and enhance adolescents’ participation in daily life. Aims: To explore and analyze the perceptions of occupational therapists and parents of individuals with HFASD, regarding the content of the protocol and its theoretical framework. Methods: Implementation of a phenomenological qualitative approach using two focus groups (six occupational therapists and five parents). A transcript-based analysis was used for analyzing the data. Results: The degree of agreement regarding the potential purposes and contents of the protocol was high. In addition, nine themes were raised and led to changes and additions in the protocol. Conclusions: The study provided support for content validity and acceptability of the Parentship protocol. Future research should test the feasibility of this new intervention program.

Keywords:

• Content validity
• qualitative research
• focus groups
• high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD)
• parent coaching
• adolescents

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support and time invested by the participants who took part in this study. They also thank the researchers at the Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Laboratory at the School of Occupational Therapy of the Hebrew University for their valuable comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.