Autism Spectrum DisorderNCT04729127
A Trial of Project ImPACT in Early Intervention
A study testing Project ImPACT in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Our pilot study will address a number of pressing questions, including: Can community clinicians successfully coach parents of children with ASD in evidence-based practice to achieve positive outcomes for their children and themselves? What dose is necessary to achieve change? And what is the cost effectiveness of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages Up to 30 months
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Project ImPACT
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 79 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Jun 2020to 31 Aug 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Up to 30 months
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- child is <30 months of age (to receive 6 months of intervention)
- a classification of autism or high autism risk as determined by the EI system;
- receive early intervention services through the infant and toddler program; and
- parent is willing to complete the parent measures that are part of this study.
Who cannot join
- 1) be over 30 months of age
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Center for Mental Health
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Trial of Project ImPACT, an Evidence-based Intervention for Infants and Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Our pilot study will address a number of pressing questions, including: Can community clinicians successfully coach parents of children with ASD in evidence-based practice to achieve positive outcomes for their children and themselves? What dose is necessary to achieve change? And what is the cost effectiveness of implementing evidence-based interventions at different doses?
Read the detailed description
The investigators will partner with 6 of Philadelphias 13 agencies serving young children with ASD. The investigators will enroll 3 clinicians per agency (18 total) and 3 families per clinician (54 total). Agencies will be randomized to the 3 arms. The investigators will measure clinician fidelity and parent fidelity through direct observation and selfreport. The investigators will measure child and parent outcomes at baseline and 6 months using measures common to similar trials. Resource use for the economic evaluation will occur quarterly and will take a societal approach. The investigators will partner with a community advisory board to apply the findings from this pilot trial to the development of a larger, system-wide subsequent trial that is feasible and ecologically valid for Philadelphias EI system. The results will provide rigorous information about whether evidence-based autism interventions for young children can be implemented successfully with the resources available in cities like Philadelphia, the role of hours of treatment in improving child outcomes, and the cost-benefit implications for families and community agencies. This project has the potential to dramatically improve the services families of young children with ASD in Philadelphia receive, and significantly improve their long-term outcomes. This preliminary trial would provide the EI system with the information needed to bring this type of intervention to scale across the entire system. It also would serve as the foundation for an application for federal funds to conduct a system-wide study of Project ImPACT as implemented in all Philadelphia agencies serving children with ASD.
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Being tested
- Project ImPACT
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Project ImPACTBehavioural
Project ImPACT (Improving Parents As Communication Teachers) is an evidence-based parent-mediated intervention program based on best practices in early intervention. The program is designed for young children up to age six with social communication delays, including autism spectrum disorder. Project ImPACT focuses on social engagement, language, social imitation, and play. Project ImPACT is a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment as usual | No intervention | The families keep receiving their treatment as usual |
| ImPACT at a dose of 1 hour/week | Active comparator | ImPACT at a dose of 1 hour/week over 6 months Receives: Behavioral: Project ImPACT |
| ImPACT at 4 hours/week | Active comparator | ImPACT at 4 hours/week over 6 months. Receives: Behavioral: Project ImPACT |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3rd Edition-Communication Domain
The Vineland-3 is a standardized measure of adaptive behavior--the things that people do to function in their everyday lives.
Because it is a norm-based instrument, the examinee's adaptive functioning is compared to that of others his or her age. The ABC score is based on scores for three specific adaptive behavior domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization.
The domain scores are also expressed as standard scores with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. The standard score range for the Communication domain is 20-140. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Measured: Time 1 (Baseline) and Time 3 (6 Month Follow Up) for a total of 6 months.
Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC)
The BOSCC is a measure of treatment-response for social-communication behaviors.
The BOSCC contains 12 items in total. The score range of individual items is 0-5. Items are then summed to a total score. The range for a total score is 0-60. Higher scores are an indication of more symptom severity.
Measured: Baseline and 6 Month Follow Up (Exit) (6 months)
Early Intervention Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (EIPSES)
The EIPSES is a measure of parent self-efficacy. It is a 16-item self-report measure that examines parents beliefs about their ability to produce positive changes and promote optimal development in their child with a disability. Once items are summed, the total score ranges from 16-112, with higher scores indicating better self-efficacy and empowerment.
Measured: Baseline and 6 Month Follow Up (6 months)
Parenting Interactions With Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO)
Parent Responsiveness is measured using the Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO™). PICCOLO is a checklist of 29 observable developmentally supportive parenting behaviors, with children ages 10-47 months, in four domains (affection, responsiveness, encouragement, and teaching).
Each item is scored as 0, 1 or 2.
0 = Behavior absent, not observed
- = Behavior barely there, sometimes
- = Behavior seen often
Assessors add scores for each item to calculate a domain score and an overall domain score. Total scores can range from 0-58, with higher scores indicating more parent responsiveness to child behavior and actions.
Measured: Collected at Baseline and 6 Month Follow Up (time frame: 6 months)
Project ImPACT Intervention Fidelity Checklist
Parent Treatment Adherence will be assessed through a videotaped parent-child interaction at home. Parent behavior will be scored for use of the intervention strategies using the Project ImPACT Intervention Fidelity Checklist. The scores range from 1 to 5, the higher the score representing the most adherence to the Project ImPACT intervention. The overall score is an average of scores from each item.
Measured: 6 months
Project ImPACT Coaching Fidelity Checklist
Clinician fidelity is measured using the Project ImPACT Coaching Fidelity Checklist. The checklist measures the providers' use of the core components to Project ImPACT. The form uses a 3-point score (scored from 0-2): 0, Not observed; 1, partially observed; and 2, observed. The final score is a summary percentage rating of overall fidelity with a range of 0-100%.
Measured: 3 Month Follow-Up (3 month time frame)
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3rd Edition-Socialization Domain
The Vineland-3 is a standardized measure of adaptive behavior--the things that people do to function in their everyday lives.
Because it is a norm-based instrument, the examinee's adaptive functioning is compared to that of others his or her age. The ABC score is based on scores for three specific adaptive behavior domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization.
The domain scores are also expressed as standard scores with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. The standard score range for the Socialization domain is 20-140. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Parent Empowerment and Coaching in Early Intervention (PEACE) Caregiver Coaching Fidelity Tool
The PEACE Fidelity Tool measures a provider's caregiver coaching quality by evaluating the quality and use of evidence based caregiver coaching strategies during recorded EI session across 5 domains (collaboration, daily routines, demonstration, practice and feedback, and reflection).
The tool consists of 25 items scored on a 5 point scale from 1-5. Domains and total scores are calculated by averaging items. Scores can range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating better coaching competency and quality.
Measured: 3 Month Follow Up (3 Months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Jan 2021
- Study start11 Jun 2020
- Primary completion15 Aug 2022
- Study completion31 Aug 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PennsylvaniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 79 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Michigan State University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Melanie Pellecchia, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04729127
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 842506
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 22 Jan 2021
- Last updated
- 3 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Trial of Project ImPACT, an Evidence-based Intervention for Infants and Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04729127
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 842506
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 79 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Michigan State University
- Study start
- 11 Jun 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 3 Apr 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Our pilot study will address a number of pressing questions, including: Can community clinicians successfully coach parents of children with ASD in evidence-based practice to achieve positive outcomes for their children and themselves? What dose is necessary to achieve change? And what is the cost effectiveness of implementing evidence-based interventions at different doses?
Detailed description
The investigators will partner with 6 of Philadelphias 13 agencies serving young children with ASD. The investigators will enroll 3 clinicians per agency (18 total) and 3 families per clinician (54 total). Agencies will be randomized to the 3 arms. The investigators will measure clinician fidelity and parent fidelity through direct observation and selfreport. The investigators will measure child and parent outcomes at baseline and 6 months using measures common to similar trials. Resource use for the economic evaluation will occur quarterly and will take a societal approach. The investigators will partner with a community advisory board to apply the findings from this pilot trial to the development of a larger, system-wide subsequent trial that is feasible and ecologically valid for Philadelphias EI system. The results will provide rigorous information about whether evidence-based autism interventions for young children can be implemented successfully with the resources available in cities like Philadelphia, the role of hours of treatment in improving child outcomes, and the cost-benefit implications for families and community agencies. This project has the potential to dramatically improve the services families of young children with ASD in Philadelphia receive, and significantly improve their long-term outcomes. This preliminary trial would provide the EI system with the information needed to bring this type of intervention to scale across the entire system. It also would serve as the foundation for an application for federal funds to conduct a system-wide study of Project ImPACT as implemented in all Philadelphia agencies serving children with ASD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment as usual | No intervention | –The families keep receiving their treatment as usual |
| ImPACT at a dose of 1 hour/week | Active comparator | Behavioral: Project ImPACTImPACT at a dose of 1 hour/week over 6 months |
| ImPACT at 4 hours/week | Active comparator | Behavioral: Project ImPACTImPACT at 4 hours/week over 6 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- Up to 30 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- child is <30 months of age (to receive 6 months of intervention)
- a classification of autism or high autism risk as determined by the EI system;
- receive early intervention services through the infant and toddler program; and
- parent is willing to complete the parent measures that are part of this study.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1) be over 30 months of age
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Project ImPACTProject ImPACT (Improving Parents As Communication Teachers) is an evidence-based parent-mediated intervention program based on best practices in early intervention. The program is designed for young children up to age six with social communication delays, including autism spectrum disorder. Project ImPACT focuses on social engagement, language, social imitation, and play. Project ImPACT is a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI). | Behavioural | ImPACT at 4 hours/week, ImPACT at a dose of 1 hour/week |
Primary outcome
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3rd Edition-Communication Domain
Time frame: Time 1 (Baseline) and Time 3 (6 Month Follow Up) for a total of 6 months.
The Vineland-3 is a standardized measure of adaptive behavior--the things that people do to function in their everyday lives. Because it is a norm-based instrument, the examinee's adaptive functioning is compared to that of others his or her age. The ABC score is based on scores for three specific adaptive behavior domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization. The domain scores are also expressed as standard scores with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. The standard score range for the Communication domain is 20-140. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC)
Time frame: Baseline and 6 Month Follow Up (Exit) (6 months)
The BOSCC is a measure of treatment-response for social-communication behaviors. The BOSCC contains 12 items in total. The score range of individual items is 0-5. Items are then summed to a total score. The range for a total score is 0-60. Higher scores are an indication of more symptom severity.
Early Intervention Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (EIPSES)
Time frame: Baseline and 6 Month Follow Up (6 months)
The EIPSES is a measure of parent self-efficacy. It is a 16-item self-report measure that examines parents beliefs about their ability to produce positive changes and promote optimal development in their child with a disability. Once items are summed, the total score ranges from 16-112, with higher scores indicating better self-efficacy and empowerment.
Parenting Interactions With Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO)
Time frame: Collected at Baseline and 6 Month Follow Up (time frame: 6 months)
Parent Responsiveness is measured using the Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO™). PICCOLO is a checklist of 29 observable developmentally supportive parenting behaviors, with children ages 10-47 months, in four domains (affection, responsiveness, encouragement, and teaching). Each item is scored as 0, 1 or 2. 0 = Behavior absent, not observed 1. = Behavior barely there, sometimes 2. = Behavior seen often Assessors add scores for each item to calculate a domain score and an overall domain score. Total scores can range from 0-58, with higher scores indicating more parent responsiveness to child behavior and actions.
Project ImPACT Intervention Fidelity Checklist
Time frame: 6 months
Parent Treatment Adherence will be assessed through a videotaped parent-child interaction at home. Parent behavior will be scored for use of the intervention strategies using the Project ImPACT Intervention Fidelity Checklist. The scores range from 1 to 5, the higher the score representing the most adherence to the Project ImPACT intervention. The overall score is an average of scores from each item.
Project ImPACT Coaching Fidelity Checklist
Time frame: 3 Month Follow-Up (3 month time frame)
Clinician fidelity is measured using the Project ImPACT Coaching Fidelity Checklist. The checklist measures the providers' use of the core components to Project ImPACT. The form uses a 3-point score (scored from 0-2): 0, Not observed; 1, partially observed; and 2, observed. The final score is a summary percentage rating of overall fidelity with a range of 0-100%.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3rd Edition-Socialization Domain
Time frame: 6 months
The Vineland-3 is a standardized measure of adaptive behavior--the things that people do to function in their everyday lives. Because it is a norm-based instrument, the examinee's adaptive functioning is compared to that of others his or her age. The ABC score is based on scores for three specific adaptive behavior domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization. The domain scores are also expressed as standard scores with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. The standard score range for the Socialization domain is 20-140. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
1 secondary outcome
Parent Empowerment and Coaching in Early Intervention (PEACE) Caregiver Coaching Fidelity Tool
Time frame: 3 Month Follow Up (3 Months)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Apr 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Project ImPACT in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 3 Apr 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3rd Edition-Communication Domain (time frame: Time 1 (Baseline) and Time 3 (6 Month Follow Up) for a total of 6 months.). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Apr 2025.