58 Chapter 3 Data analysis Online survey Respondents were asked what their initial concerns were regarding their child’s development. Percentages for different types of initial concerns were calculated. Furthermore, descriptive statistics were used to calculate the average time difference between a child’s age at initial concerns and at diagnosis. Also, the average severity of first concerns as rated on a 5-point Likert scale (with 1 being not worried and 5 being very worried) where calculated for mothers, fathers and first line healthcare workers as indicated by the respondent. A paired samples t-test was conducted to compare concerns between parents and professionals. The respondent that completed the questionnaire reported the severity of concerns for themselves, the other parent, and the first line healthcare workers (preventive care physicians and general practitioners), hence the choice to conduct a paired samples t-test. Focus group The audio recording was transcribed verbatim and de-identified by a research assistant with a psychology background. Accuracy was checked afterwards by all researchers present at the focus group. The transcripts were not returned to participants for corrections. Furthermore, participants were not involved in the analyses of the data. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using an iterative process of group coding and thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Participants’ quotes were hereby the starting point in constructing themes and categories. After familiarizing with the data by reading and re-reading, coding was first roughly done by hand, by the first and second author, followed by comparing codes and discussing differences to derive inter-coder reliability. Codes were entered in Atlas Ti Qualitative Analysis Software, version 8. Through discussion and agreement over discrepancies with the first, second and third author, a consensus over the codes was reached. Similar segments were reassembled into categories. Then categories were compared and put together to form themes. No themes were identified in advance. Finally, since traditional data saturation cannot occur when only one focus group is held, the first author verified the extensiveness of the emerged themes by comparing the focus group results with answers given by participants during the online survey. Based on these open answers, no additional themes were identified and therefore it was decided not to host a second focus group since thematic saturation was reached. Results Initial concerns This section covers the results extracted from the survey data. Initial concerns by parents were expressed when the child had an average age of 22 months (range 0-48, SD=12.96). Upon receiving an ASD diagnosis, children had an average age of 48 months (range 24-
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