Caregiver satisfaction with a multisite trial of atomoxetine and parent training for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavioral noncompliance in children with autism spectrum disorder

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine caregiver satisfaction with the research experience in a randomized clinical trial of atomoxetine (ATX) and parent training (PT) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavioral noncompliance co-occurring with autism. Methods: The Children with Hyperactivity and Autism Research Treatment Study (CHARTS) randomly assigned 128 children 5.00-14.11 years of age to four treatment groups (ATX + PT, ATX alone, PT + placebo[PBO], and PBO). Caregivers completed an 18 item questionnaire about their satisfaction with the research experience. We summarized caregiver responses with descriptive statistics and examined whether the responses were associated with demographic variables, treatment assignment, or the child's response to treatment (positive or negative). Results: Ninety-three percent of caregivers (119) completed the questionnaire. When asked if they would join the study again if given the chance, 87% (103) responded "yes," 13% (15) responded "maybe," and 1% (1) responded "no." When asked if they would recommend the study to other caregivers of children with similar problems, 92% (109) responded "yes" and 8% responded (10) "maybe." Of the 59 Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) respondents who received PT, 75% (44) felt more confident in managing current child behaviors, 24% (14) felt that their level of confidence was unchanged, and 2% (1) felt less confident. Most caregivers expressed satisfaction with the study procedures, including the number of visits and the safety monitoring protocols. Conclusions: In general, caregivers were highly satisfied with their research experience. These findings may be useful for informing human subject committees and for designing study protocols that are appealing to families.