title: A preliminary investigation into the effectiveness of a group-delivered sleep management intervention for parents of children with intellectual disabilities.
abstract: Sleep problems are more prevalent and severe among children with intellectual disabilities and autism compared to typically developing children. Training parents in behavioural approaches to manage sleep problems is advocated. However, delivering such interventions via groups is novel. This article reports the findings from a preliminary evaluation of a group-delivered intervention routinely delivered by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Learning Disability team in England. For this purpose, parents (n = 23) of children with intellectual disabilities were recruited. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Parents' Sense of Competence Scale and parent-set goals captured outcomes at pre-intervention, post-intervention and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Intervention delivery costs were collected. Take-up was high (86%), and no parent dropped out. Statistically significant improvements in night wakings, parent-set goals and parents' sense of efficacy were observed. The estimated mean cost of delivering each intervention was British (GBP) £1570. Findings suggest the intervention is a low-cost, acceptable service warranting further evaluation.
authors: University of York, UK lucy.stuttard@york.ac.uk.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Stuttard
authors: University of York, UK.
authors: Bryony
authors: B
authors: Beresford
authors: University of York, UK.
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Clarke
authors: University of Kent, UK.
authors: Jeni
authors: J
authors: Beecham
authors: Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: autistic spectrum conditions; children; intellectual disabilities; parent training programme; sleep problems