Family Physicians' Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results from a Survey Study

Abstract

AIM: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Family physicians with the first medical contact of children are among the most frequent physicians with ASD. We aimed to investigate family physicians' awareness of ASD.
 METHODS: This study was carried out family physicians in between September 25-October 15, 2018. The questionnaire form on autism awareness prepared by the researcher was delivered to family physicians electronically and in printed form, and it was filled out by volunteers.
 RESULTS: Forty-eight family physicians with an average professional experience of 16.9 ± 8.8 years participated in the study. A group of 66.7% of the participants had not previously received education on ASD, and 70.8% of them did not refer any child to child psychiatry with suspected ASD in the last 6 months. The participants stated that the most common clinical features in children with ASD were the inability to make eye contact (72.9%) and repetitive movements (47.9%), and 56.3% of them stated one or more features that are not observed in ASD. The compliance of the participants' answers about the clinical features observed in children with ASD with the DSM-5 criteria was determined to be 54.6 ± 18.4%. Significantly higher compliance rates were observed in the participants with education on autism and those working as a physician below 15 years.
 CONCLUSION: In our study, family physicians' awareness of ASD was not found to be adequate. Education programs on autism awareness should be applied to family physicians who are probably the most frequently encountered physicians by children with ASD.

Identifying and managing care for children with autism spectrum disorders in general practice: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

“…Thirteen studies assessed GP knowledge of autism. Two studies (Campbell, 2008; Unigwe et al., 2017) used an adapted version of the ASK (Stone, 1987), two studies (Eseigbe et al., 2015; Hend, 2017) used the KCAHW (Bakare et al., 2008), and the remainder (k = 8) used a bespoke assessment developed by the research team (Altay, 2019; Berenstein, 2012; Eray & Murat, 2017; Garg, Lillystone, Dossetor, Kefford, & Chong, 2014; Kirby, Davies, & Bryant, 2005; Lian, Ho, Yeo, & Ho, 2003; Martínez, Tadeo, Montero, & Antonio, 2013; Rahbar, Ibrahim, & Assassi, 2011). In one study (Muhammad, Dhia Al‐Deen, & Abdul Muhsin, 2013) the authors cite Heidgerken, Geffken, Modi, and Frakey (2005) in the method, and yet the results reflect the structure of the KCHAW (Bakare et al., 2008).…”

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Psychiatric Comorbidities

“…It is important that family physicians refer patients with ADHD symptoms and those with learning difficulties to the children and adolescent psychiatry. It is important in this respect that primary care physicians are subject to current education programs on ADHD and other mental disorders as suggested by previous studies (39). It should be known that ADHD is a disorder frequently associated with other psychiatric disorders and cases should be handled in this respect.…”

Autism Spectrum Disorders in the work of General Practitioners: a systematic narrative review

“…A further 11.5% of GPs endorsed "singing" and "irritability" as diagnostic features of autism. In closing, Altay (69) argued that GP knowledge of these conditions was not satisfactory. Echoing the recommendations of others, Altay called for an increase in autism training programmes for GPs, with a particular focus on clinical features, comorbid conditions, and recent aetiological evidence.…”

“…These GPs speculated that the child may be socially withdrawn, have a preference or interest in one item or toy, have difficulty with following instructions, have limited if any language, and may also have cognitive difficulties. Meanwhile in Altay (69), nearly a quarter of GPs indicated that 'learning disability' was a diagnostic marker for autism. These findings were buttressed by another Turkish study (74) which reported that prior to an educational intervention, 23.3% of GPs agreed that autism is "always" accompanied by a learning disability, while 12% were unsure.…”

“…For instance, in the UK and Ireland (60), one GP considered Asperger's syndrome as a "more severe form of ADD". Further, in Altay (69), over a third of GPs indicated that 'hyperactivity' was a clinical feature of autism. While in Oman (72), one GP suggested that observing hyperactivity in the clinic might be a way to screen for autism.…”