Telehealth Interventions to Promote Health and Behavior-Related Outcomes in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This systematic review examined the effectiveness in a hybrid telehealth model for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), exploring the evidence base, methodology, and outcomes of health and behavior-related interventions for adolescents with ASD. The 11 included studies (a) were quantitative, (b) evaluated interventions delivered through a hybrid telehealth model (i.e., combined remote intervention with minimal in-person procedures), (c) measured health and behavior-related outcomes, and (d) considered adolescence as ages 12 through 25 years. The studies were a mixture of designs, methods, and outcome measures, and participant numbers were extremely low. Results demonstrated an overall lack of empirical evidence on the efficacy of hybrid-delivered interventions for adolescents with ASD, and more studies are needed to explore their effectiveness.