Medical Homes for Children With Autism: A Physician Survey

Abstract

Primary care physicians report a lack of self-perceived competency, a desire for education, and a need for improvement in primary care for children with autism. Physician education is needed to improve primary care for children with autism. Practice parameters and models of care should address physician-reported barriers to care.

Autism genetic testing: a qualitative study of awareness, attitudes, and experiences among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders

“…This finding is supported by past research which showed that doctors had inadequate competencies to discuss the medical condition with the families of children with developmental delays. [33][34][35] In addition, studies have also found that health-care providers have limited genomic competencies for discussing genetic testing with patients. 30,31 Accordingly, genomics education for health-care providers is needed to facilitate better genetic services.…”

GPs’ confidence in caring for their patients on the autism spectrum: an online self-report study

“…The few existing studies -all conducted outside of the UK -have shown that GPs' awareness of autism and appropriate referral and care pathways is variable (14)(15)(16)(17). The only study to have investigated the perceived self-competence of primary care physicians in the United States found that this was predicted by the extent of their experience of autism and whether they had received previous autism training (18). 4 To understand these issues within a British context, we therefore conducted the first survey examining GPs' perceived self-efficacy in identifying and managing their autistic patients and the factors that affect it.…”

“…Given the significant challenges these respondents' reported, it is unsurprising that they expressed a desire for more autism training. Currently, GPs appear to rely on their personal connections of autism (through family members, friends, colleagues) as a source of tacit 12 knowledge -which may provide a more visceral and more nuanced appreciation of the realities of autism (14,18). An overreliance on subjective, personal knowledge could, however, afford a narrow, idiosyncratic view of what autism is, potentially causing clinicians to miss the signs in some individuals, potentially leading to disparities in healthcare provision (39).…”

A Pilot Study of Autism-Specific Care Plans During Hospital Admission

“…Studies show that low selfperceived competence is identified as a major barrier to providing care for children with ASD by medical providers. 9,10 Increasing knowledge of a patient's ASD may alleviate some of the providers' concerns over competence and lead to better patient-provider interactions.…”

“…Studies show that general pediatricians do not feel adequately prepared to care for children with ASD. 9,10 In a survey of 539 pediatricians and family physicians, physicians reported significantly lower overall self-perceived competency in caring for children with ASD compared with children with other neurodevelopmental conditions. 9 We suspect this lack of preparation is also a concern among pediatric hospitalists.…”