Preliminary Development and Testing of the Risk Assessment Checklist for Self-Injury in Autism-Medical (RACSA-M)

Lisa B Alberts; Tracy L Kettering

doi:10.1891/JDNP-2021-0034

Preliminary Development and Testing of the Risk Assessment Checklist for Self-Injury in Autism-Medical (RACSA-M)

J Dr Nurs Pract. 2022 Jul 1;15(2):75-83. doi: 10.1891/JDNP-2021-0034.

Authors

Lisa B Alberts¹, Tracy L Kettering²

Affiliations

¹ Bancroft and La Salle University, Bancroft hanwayalberts96@lasalle.edu.
² Bancroft and La Salle University, Bancroft.

PMID: 35820787
DOI: 10.1891/JDNP-2021-0034

Abstract

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a major treatment focus for clinicians treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A review of the literature identified medical conditions that may be risk factors for an individual engaging in SIB. This study involved the creation and preliminary validation of a standardized assessment checklist: Risk Assessment Checklist for Self-Injury in Autism-Medical (RASCA-M) for the physical, behavioral, and diagnostic evaluation of non-verbal children with autism and SIB living in a residential setting. Preliminary content validity, criterion-related validity, and interobserver agreement were established. The RACSA-M is a promising instrument to assess underlying medical issues in non-verbal children with ASD and SIB.

Keywords: autism; health; intellectual disabilities; pain; self-injurious behavior.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
Checklist
Child
Humans
Risk Assessment
Self-Injurious Behavior* / diagnosis
Self-Injurious Behavior* / etiology