Social Stories in mainstream schools for children with autism spectrum disorder: a feasibility randomised controlled trial

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>To assess the feasibility of recruitment, retention, outcome measures and intervention training/delivery among teachers, parents and children. To calculate a sample size estimation for full trial.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design</jats:title><jats:p>A single-centre, unblinded, cluster feasibility randomised controlled trial examining Social Stories delivered within a school environment compared with an attentional control.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Setting</jats:title><jats:p>37 primary schools in York, UK.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Participants</jats:title><jats:p>50 participants were recruited and a cluster randomisation approach by school was examined. Participants were randomised into the treatment group (n=23) or a waiting list control group (n=27).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Outcome measures</jats:title><jats:p>Acceptability and feasibility of the trial, intervention and of measurements required to assess outcomes in a definitive trial.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>An assessment of the questionnaire completion rates indicated teachers would be most appropriate to complete the primary outcome measure. 2 outcome measures: the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)-2 and a goal-based measure showed both the highest levels of completion rates (above 80%) at the primary follow-up point (6 weeks postintervention) and captured relevant social and behaviour outcomes. Power calculations were based on these 2 outcome measures leading to a total proposed sample size of 180 participant groups.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Results suggest that a future trial would be feasible to conduct and could inform the policy and practice of using Social Stories in mainstream schools.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Trial registration number</jats:title><jats:p>ISRCTN96286707; Results.</jats:p></jats:sec>