Piloting an E-Learning Applied Behavior Analysis Course for Caregivers of Children with Autism in the Czech Republic

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Authors

KINGSDORF Sheri Leigh PANČOCHA Karel VAĎUROVÁ Helena DOSEDĚL Tomáš

Year of publication 2022
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of behavioral education
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Education

Citation
Web https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10864-022-09493-2
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10864-022-09493-2
Keywords Telepractice; Autism; Applied behavior analysis; Czech Republic; Telemedicine
Description The telehealth model can allow for cost-effective supports in areas where limited applied behavior analysis (ABA) services are available. As a result, e-learning programs for parents of children with autism have become part of the telehealth paradigm. In the Czech Republic, one of the many places where there are limited ABA supports and no available ABA e-learning courses for families, the development of an e-learning course that is freely available, and linguistically and culturally appropriate, is needed. It was anticipated that this course could mirror some of the free e-learning materials available to English-speaking caregivers and provide foundational knowledge to later support more intensive ABA services. Therefore, a pilot study was developed to assess an ABA e-learning course for caregivers in the Czech Republic with the aim of validating its efficacy and assessing whether a synchronous component was needed for the best outcomes. The materials were not meant to replace best practices in more intensive caregiver training but provide foundational skills for later more successful local services. Results demonstrated that a total of 33 caregivers completed the course, making statistically significant gains in their ABA knowledge and rating the course highly. Interestingly, the addition of the synchronous component only impacted the knowledge gain outcome. Suggestions for supporting caregivers in e-learning course completion and directions for future research are additionally explored.
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