Development of a toolkit to help parents/caregivers manage feeding problems in autistic children: A protocol for a realist synthesis and toolkit co-design

Abstract

Many autistic children have feeding problems, typically eating a limited range of foods. Feeding problems affect quality of life, health, and development. Research suggests that parents are often unsure when to or whether to seek help. When they do, local provision of help across the UK is often lacking. A toolkit could offer a tailored, accessible, and scalable early intervention to support parents. We aim to develop the blueprint of a toolkit to help parents/caregivers manage feeding problems in their autistic children. Medical Research Council guidance on developing complex interventions informs three successive work packages: will be disseminated via journal publications, conferences, social media, as well as PPI-coproduced webinars and a dissemination event. On completion, this project will provide the foundation for the subsequent development and refinement of the prototype toolkit.