Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Ng CP(1), Ho SWC(1), Ng CF(1), Choi WYA(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurse Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
Introduction :
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impacts around 1 in 54 children worldwide, with a notable prevalence in NTEC’s child psychiatry cases. A pioneering pilot program incorporating LEGO®-Based Therapy has been initiated to improve the social capabilities of children diagnosed with ASD, addressing the increasing demand for specialized clinical services.
Objectives :
The program targets several key objectives: 1. Creating nursing interventions to enhance social, behavioral, and cognitive skills for children diagnosed with ASD. 2. Piloting evidence-based practice by structured, nurse-led services, providing at ambulatory setting for the indicated children within community. 3. Appraising the program's effectiveness in boosting social competence. 4. Determining satisfaction levels among participants and their carers. 5. Collecting feedback for the continuous enhancement of the services.
Methodology :
Involving 33 children aged 6-12, the program piloted in two phases from July 2023 to January 2024 and encompassed: 1. Facilitator Training: Nurses received training in the effective delivery of LEGO®-Based Therapy. 2. Recruitment and Assessment: Conducted pre-and-post tele-assessments to parents. 3. Therapeutic Environment: Nurses established a conducive space for nurturing and monitoring positive social interaction. 4. Program Structure: Spanning 6 weeks, the program featured hourly sessions that combined structured and spontaneous collaborative play. 5. Data Collection: A comprehensive approach with the Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd edition (SRS-2), and satisfaction surveys were adopted.
Result & Outcome :
The quantitative data reflected: 1. Paired t-test revealed significant improvement in social awareness (p=0.001) and social motivation (p=0.046) among children using SRS-2. 2. Over 75% increase in social response among the children. 3. 100% of parents satisfied with the nurse-led services. The qualitative insights included: 1. Parents reported significant improvements in social awareness and communication, such as: - Enhanced cooperation with peers. - Better in articulation of thoughts. - Increased receptiveness to others’ opinions. - Improved greetings and sharing behaviors. 2. Satisfaction surveys underscored positive parental feedback, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based practice and client-centered care. The nurse-led LEGO®-Based Therapy showed encouraging results in advancing social skills for children diagnosed with ASD. Qualitative and quantitative feedbacks advocated for validation on effectiveness; potential for further program's expansion; and be an essential element in the array of clinical interventions for ASD.
