title: Examining treatment adherence among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) participate in a variety of treatments, including medication, behavioral, alternative and developmental treatments. Parent adherence to these treatments is crucial for positive child outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study: 1) Explored patterns of parent adherence across the full range of treatments that are prescribed to children with ASD and, 2) Examined whether parent demographics, parent treatment attitudes, and child ASD severity contribute to parents' adherence across ASD treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were distributed to parents of children with ASD in a southeastern state. Parents (N = 274) were included if they were parenting a child with ASD who was receiving treatment for ASD symptoms. Paired t-tests and multiple linear regression were used to assess the study aims.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adherence to medication treatment was significantly greater than adherence to behavioral, developmental, or alternative treatments (adjusted p-values 0.0006, 0.0030, 0.0006 respectively). Perceived family burden of a treatment was associated with lower adherence to medication, developmental, and alternative treatments. Finally, greater ASD severity was associated with lower adherence to alternative treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the independent variables accounted for more variance in adherence to medication and alternative treatments than in behavioral and developmental treatments. Parents' adherence to ASD treatment differs significantly by treatment type and is influenced by parental perceptions of the burden of treatment on the family. These findings highlight the importance of understanding and addressing the impact of ASD treatment regimens on family life.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, 1731 College St., Rm. 202, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Electronic address: roberth@sc.edu.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hock
authors.affiliation: Autism Wonders Program, Greenville Health System Children's Hospital, 200 Patewood Drive, Suite 200A, Greenville, SC 29615, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kinsman
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, Devine Street Research Center #114, 730 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortaglia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Behavioral intervention; Medication; Parents; Treatment adherence