Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial

5.6.3 Procedures for Teacher Completed Forms

• The Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale-Revised: Long Version (CTRS-R:L) and the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF) also will be sent to children’s teachers.
  • Teacher forms may be sent out prior to the baseline NP visit, but this will vary from site to site due to financial and coordination issues.
  • Both the coordinator and neuropsychologist names will be listed on the teacher envelopes and teacher authorization letter to avoid confusion, but as much as possible, only the same individual will contact the teacher.
  • Procedures for Approaching Teachers if forms not given during earlier visit
  • Teachers will be approached at all three time points
  • Solicitation and collection of teacher questionnaires will be responsibility of research coordinator
    • Permission to contact, as well as identification of a teacher who knows the student best, will be obtained from parents at the time of consent and at each time the follow-up visits are scheduled if necessary.
    • Teacher questionnaires and brief cover letters explaining their purpose, and a postage-paid return envelope will be mailed to the teacher. (Sample template letter is in Appendix H of the CHAT Master Manual of Procedures). Optimal time to mail baseline forms are at time of consent. Unless a follow-up assessment occurs during the summer or prior to October 1st of a new school year, mailings should occur between 2-4 weeks prior to the 6- and 12-month follow-ups.
    • If a baseline assessment is to be conducted in the summer or prior to October 1st of a new school year, the teacher from the previous academic year will be identified and contacted. If a baseline teacher questionnaire packet has not been returned by one weekend after a child’s baseline and follow up assessment session, the unblinded coordinator will call the teacher to inquire if he or she has any questions about the process or needs another packet.
    • If a follow-up assessment is to be conducted in the summer or prior to October 1st of a new school year, the teacher packet should be held and mailed soon after October 1st, to the teacher from the new school year. If that packet is not returned within three weeks, the unblinded coordinator will call the teacher to inquire if he or she has any questions about the process or needs another packet
    • After returning teacher questionnaires, teachers will receive a $10 honorarium from each site.
    • After receipt of the teacher-completed questionnaires, the research coordinator will deliver the forms to the psychometrists for scoring and data recording