Warning signs (red flags) to gauge the research evidence-base of intervention programmes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) : a scoping review

This study aimed to firstly synthesise and describe the warning signs (i.e., red flags) that have been introduced and described in the literature for stakeholders to gauge the research evidence-based of intervention programmes for children with autism by means of a scoping review. Secondly, to socially validate these red flags with experts with the intention of proposing a ‘red flag’ checklist that can be used by all stakeholders to gauge the scientific basis of ASD intervention programmes. This study therefore utilised a six-step scoping review methodology to map out the broad body of relevant literature concerning the outlined research question. Search terms were entered into eight databases and two journals were hand searched following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A total of 171 records were identified. Following the removal of duplicates and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven publications remained from which data were extracted and synthesised. A qualitative content analysis framework was used to categorise data into main themes (i.e., red flags). Step 6, included a custom-designed survey based on the results of steps 1 to 5 of the review. It required experts within the field of autism to comment on the retention, adaption, or removal of the specific red flags. Descriptive statistics were utilised to analyse the survey data.