Effects of an Adapted Telehealth Training Curriculum for Registered Behavior Technicians®

Adv Neurodev Disord. 2022 Sep 17:1-12. doi: 10.1007/s41252-022-00285-3. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated a telehealth training curriculum to prepare Registered Behavior Technicians® (RBTs®) to conduct caregiver coaching on behavior analytic skills via telehealth.

Methods: A non-concurrent multiple baseline across therapists design was used to evaluate the training procedures delivered by Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®). All therapists (RBTs) worked with one family during the baseline and training phases and an additional session was conducted with a different family during the novelty probe condition to see if therapists were able to perform the newly acquired skills without BCBA support.

Results: Seven therapists who received behavioral skills training on the curriculum reached mastery criteria within three sessions. All RBTs were able to provide caregiver coaching via telehealth with high degrees of fidelity and were able to independently conduct a telehealth session with a new family without support from the BCBA.

Conclusions: Results of the current study provide support for the use of the telehealth training curriculum to prepare RBTs to conduct ABA services via telehealth.

Keywords: Direct service providers; Registered behavior technicians; Telehealth; Training; Videoconferencing.