Abstract
BackgroundIn many countries, children who are diagnosed with autism during the first 5 years of life are offered a range of early intervention options. These options vary considerably in the theoretical approaches and techniques applied, their intensity and duration, settings, the person/s delivering supports and the training they require. Early interventions are a significant contributor to total autism-related costs in Western countries, but only in the last 10–20 years has there been adequate outcome data to enable the comparison of different interventions’ cost-effectiveness. This protocol describes a scoping review to better understand what economic evaluations have been completed in this field, and the methods used to date.MethodsWe will systematically search the following databases from their inception to 2021 for eligible studies: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Econlit, PEDE, NHS EED and HTA. Full economic evaluations of any types of early intervention for children with autism prior to school entry will be included. Two reviewers will screen the studies, extract the data and assess the study quality using established checklists. The risk of bias will be assessed using the extended CHEC-list for all studies and, additionally, the Philips checklist for modelled studies. Quality of reporting will be assessed using the CHEERS checklist. A narrative synthesis will be completed to collate the findings, describe the methods used and identify which interventions have been researched from an economic perspective.DiscussionThis review will provide researchers, policymakers and service providers with current information about the economic evidence for early interventions for young children with autism and point to priorities for further research. It will inform future economic evaluations by highlighting the gaps or inconsistencies in the methods used to date. Limitations of the review will be acknowledged and discussed.Systematic review registrationOpen Science Framework: https://osf.io/sj7kt
Highlights
In many countries, children who are diagnosed with autism during the first 5 years of life are offered a range of early intervention options
In Australia, participants with a primary diagnosis of autism make up approximately 29% of the National Disability Insurance Scheme: the largest single diagnostic group [7]
The following research questions will be addressed: what economic evidence is there for early interventions aimed at young children with autism, and how have researchers evaluated their costs and benefits to date? The specific aims of this review are as follows: 1. To collate the best available information about the economic efficiency of interventions for autistic children during the years prior to starting school
Summary
Children who are diagnosed with autism during the first 5 years of life are offered a range of early intervention options. Interventions are a significant contributor to total autism-related costs in Western countries, but only in the last 10–20 years has there been adequate outcome data to enable the comparison of different interventions’ cost-effectiveness. This protocol describes a scoping review to better understand what economic evaluations have been completed in this field, and the methods used to date. In Australia, annual total costs in 2010, including impact on quality of life, were estimated at approximately AUD$9.7 billion or $87,000 per person per year [10]
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