Publications by authors named "Jolene Hunter"

Chronic health conditions (CHC; e.g., cystic fibrosis, type 1 diabetes) in children are associated with disease-specific physical symptoms that contribute to a high prevalence of sleep problems.

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Article Synopsis
  • Timely access to support is crucial for the development of autistic children and the mental well-being of their caregivers, with naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) being effective but resource-intensive.
  • The study will conduct a randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of NDBI, ACT, and a combination of both, focusing on children aged 2-5 in New Zealand over a 13-week period.
  • The trial is ethically approved and aims to share its findings widely, regardless of outcomes, to benefit stakeholders and health professionals.
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This study follows McLay et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, (2020) to investigate whether the function-based behavioral sleep interventions received by 41 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) produced collateral improvements in ASD severity, internalizing and externalizing symptoms and parent relationship quality, ratings of depression, anxiety and stress, and personal sleep quality. Concomitant with reduced sleep problem severity, improvements were found in children's internalizing and externalizing behavior and ASD symptom severity.

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Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high rates of sleep problems, which exacerbate the core symptoms of ASD, including stereotypy (restricted and repetitive behaviors). Conversely, stereotypy can interfere with sleep by actively competing with sleep-facilitative behaviors (eg, lying down quietly). Behavioral interventions informed by functional behavioral assessment (FBA) significantly reduce sleep problems in children with ASD, however, their impact on sleep-interfering stereotypy is not clear.

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This case analysis involved 41 clinical cases wherein children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) received a behavioral intervention for sleep problems. This study intended to (a) evaluate the efficacy of function-based behavioral sleep treatments; (b) elucidate variables impacting response to such interventions; (c) inform practitioners addressing sleep problems without a robust evidence-base; and (d) suggest priorities for future sleep research. Interventions included antecedent- and consequence-based modifications, and the teaching of replacement behaviors.

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Sleep problems are prevalent among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are often accompanied by stereotypies, the function of which may be difficult to determine. Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is an evidence-based approach to assessing and treating challenging behaviors, however, it has scarcely been used with sleep problems. This study investigates the effectiveness of FBA-based treatments for sleep disturbance (SD) in children with ASD, the short- and long-term maintenance of these effects, and parents' perspectives on the assessment and treatment process.

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This paper examines the effects of non-traditional (non-behavioural and non-prescription pharmaceutical) approaches to sleep in children and young people (0-18 y). A systematic search identified 79 studies that met inclusion criteria. Seventeen percent of the studies were rated as having a conclusive level of evidence, forty-two percent with preponderant evidence and forty-one percent with only suggestive evidence.

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e-Health projects are being implemented globally in low-income countries as a response to the identified inequality and inequity of access to health services for poor populations with a great burden of disease. These projects are seen to offer solutions that provide quality care at a low cost. Limited research is done on the sustainability of these projects.

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