Table 1 Summary of semi-structured interview schedule, for full interview schedule, see Appendix B
Topic | Number of questions | Primary issues addressed |
|---|---|---|
Child’s background | 10 | Basic demographics, level of cognitive ability in relation to scheduling & choice making, communication level |
Preference for routine | 6 | Previous and current ability of child to deal with change, parent’s approach to structuring routines, advice received relevant to routines and how far this was followed |
Use of visuals | 8 | Current use of visuals including consistency of use, parental confidence in use, limitations experienced and child’s preferred modalities |
Routine & change in a typical day | 12 | Walk through a typical day, high and low risk times for child stress, more and less tolerated changes, influence of parents and others on child’s response, use of specific techniques to manage change |
Experience with implementing flexibility | 12 | Previous experience of intentionally increasing variability in routines including procedure used, reasons for doing this, challenges and outcomes |
Behaviours linked to changes | 5 | Type, duration and frequency of behaviours shown by child in response to changes |
Support with family management of behaviours | 7 | Involvement of family members, school and other professionals in strategies that have been implemented by parents for the management of children’s behaviour |
Intervention design | 23 | General anticipated challenges with increasing flexibility and how to avoid these, communication of and content of plans, integrating choice and flexibility into plans, motivation for flexibility, necessary support for parents and others |