Increasing compliance with nasal swab procedures

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Second Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Third Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Abstract

"Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can exhibit low levels of compliance with, and engage in disruptive behavior during medical procedures. Research has shown that differential reinforcement without extinction and stimulus fading have been successful in increasing compliance with these procedures. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of differential reinforcement without extinction and differential reinforcement without extinction plus stimulus fading on disruptive behavior during a nasopharyngeal swab procedure, often used to test for COVID-19 and the flu, for five participants with ASD. A functional analysis showed that disruptive behavior was maintained by escape from the nasal swab procedure. Differential reinforcement without extinction alone was successful for one of the five participants to increase compliance with and decrease disruptive behavior during a nasopharyngeal swab procedure. The addition of stimulus fading was effective in increasing compliance and decreasing disruptive behavior for the remaining four participants. Maintenance of compliance with the nasopharyngeal swab procedure was observed for all five of the participants."

This document is available upon request to Western New England University faculty, students, and staff. Please contact D'Amour Library at dref@wne.edu for access.

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