Urgency in Improving Child Health Care Workers' Awareness and Knowledge of ASD: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Ma, Yu; Zhou, Yan; Liu, Ye; Yue, Ping; Wang, Yaozhou; Hu, Xiao; Zhang, Chenxi; Wang, Tianqi; Zhou, Hao

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.703609

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Using the KCAHW questionnaire, the mean score for the study population was 13.38 ± 4.48 points, which suggested that there is a need to improve the ASD knowledge in Chinese pediatric residents. Our results were in sync with a previous study which evaluated ASD awareness and knowledge in child health care workers in Southwest China [ 28 ]. Pediatric residents or pediatricians in different countries had different levels of ASD knowledge.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors affecting knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among pediatric residents in eastern China: a cross-sectional study

Song

Hong

et al. 2022

BMC Med Educ

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Background There is a global increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Early identification of ASD in children and intervention are key aspects in the management of ASD. However, early identification is partly dependent on knowledge on ASD among pediatricians. This study analyzed the extent of ASD knowledge and its underlying factors among pediatric residents in eastern China, to provide a reference for medical education reforms. Methods The study employed the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers questionnaire. A total of 138 pediatric residents participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics and the four domains of the questionnaire. Univariate analysis was employed to assess impacts of the demographic characteristics on the questionnaire scores. On the other hand, multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the participants’ demographic characteristics and the questionnaire scores. Results The average ASD cognitive score of 138 respondents was 13.38 ± 4.48. The ASD cognitive scores in female pediatric residents were higher compared to that in males (p < 0.05). Residents who had obtained professional doctor qualification certificate were more than those without professional doctor qualification certificate (p < 0.05). The ASD knowledge in the group which did not have rotation in both departments was lower than in the group which had rotation in both departments (p < 0.05) as well as the group that had rotation in developmental and behavioral pediatrics department only (p < 0.05). Our multivariate linear regression model demonstrated significant statistical differences (p < 0.05), and showed that gender and systematic exposure to ASD knowledge had significant effects on cognitive scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion Most participants had relatively low levels of awareness and knowledge about ASD, especially on ASD comorbidities and age of onset. Women, systematic learning of ASD knowledge in medical school, successful passing of the physician examination, and rotation in the developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP) department significantly influence the levels of ASD awareness and knowledge. It is, therefore, important to strengthen ASD education in medical students at the university level and make rotation in the DBP department a requisite for pediatric trainees.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors affecting knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among pediatric residents in eastern China: a cross-sectional study

Song

Hong

et al. 2022

BMC Med Educ

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“…Using the KCAHW questionnaire, the mean score for the study population was 13.38 ± 4.48 points, which suggested that there is a need to improve the ASD knowledge in Chinese pediatric residents. Our results were in sync with a previous study which evaluated ASD awareness and knowledge in child health care workers in Southwest China [27]. Pediatric residents or pediatricians in different countries had different levels of ASD knowledge.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors affecting knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among pediatric residents in eastern China: A cross-sectional study

Song

Hong

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: There is a global increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Early identification of ASD in children and intervention are key aspects in the management of ASD. However, early identification is partly dependent on knowledge on ASD among pediatricians. This study analyzed the extent of ASD knowledge and its underlying factors among pediatric residents in eastern China, to provide a reference for medical education reforms. Methods: The study employed the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers questionnaire. A total of 138 pediatric residents participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics and the four domains of the questionnaire. Univariate analysis was employed to assess impacts of the demographic characteristics on the questionnaire scores. On the other hand, multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the participants’ demographic characteristics and the questionnaire scores. Results: The average ASD cognitive score of 138 respondents was 13.38 ± 4.48. The ASD cognitive scores in female pediatric residents were higher compared to that in males (p<0.05). Residents who had obtained professional doctor qualification certificate were more than those without professional doctor qualification certificate (p<0.05). The ASD knowledge in the group which did not have rotation in both departments was lower than in the group which had rotation in both departments (p<0.05) as well as the group that had rotation in developmental and behavioral pediatrics department only (p<0.05). Our multivariate linear regression model demonstrated significant statistical differences (p<0.05), and showed that gender and systematic exposure to ASD knowledge had significant effects on cognitive scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: Most participants had relatively low levels of awareness and knowledge about ASD, especially on ASD comorbidities. Women, systematic learning of ASD knowledge in medical school, successful passing of the physician examination, and rotation in the developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP) department significantly influence the levels of ASD awareness and knowledge. It is, therefore, important to strengthen ASD education in medical students at the university level and make rotation in the DBP department a requisite for pediatric trainees.

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“…Guizhou province is located in Southwest China, which is an underdeveloped region in terms of medical resources and economic level. Early screening of ASD is limited, and our previous research found low levels of awareness and knowledge of ASD among child health care workers in Guizhou province (14). Thus, there is an urgent need to establish the early screening network of ASD in these less developed areas, in China.…”

Section: Intervention Status Of Autism Spectrum Disordermentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Medical resources and economic levels are uneven in China ( 13 ), and Beijing and Changsha are developed cities. Our previous research found low levels of awareness and knowledge of ASD among child health care workers in Guizhou province in China ( 14 ), which is an underdeveloped region in terms of medical resources and economic level. Therefore, investigating the rehabilitation status and burden of children with ASD is urgent in these regions, and the aim of this study was to focus on this issue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The intervention dilemma and high burden of children with autism in Guizhou province, Southwest China

Liu

Zhou²,

Qin³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly disabling neurodevelopmental disorder, and the burden is high. Data on the burden of ASD are limited in China, especially in the southwest. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the intervention status and burden of children with ASD in Southwest China.Materials and methodsFamilies of children with ASD were recruited from hospitals, special education schools, and private rehabilitation centers; they participated in the survey and completed the questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the questionnaire results, which included basic demographic characteristics, rehabilitation status, and burden. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze the association of basic family demographic characteristics, rehabilitation status, and costs of ASD.ResultsA total of 231 families of children with ASD participated in this survey, and 78.35% (181/231) of the children with ASD were male. The mean age was 4.34 ± 2.09 years. A total of 55.84% (129/231) of the children with ASD had an intellectual disability. Only 46.32% (107/231) started receiving intervention within 1 month after diagnosis. The institutions for rehabilitation interventions for children with ASD were mainly tertiary hospitals (39.39%), special education schools (29.87%) and private rehabilitation institutions (21.64%). For a total of 42.86% (99/231) of the children with ASD, the duration of the intervention was less than 10 h per week. A total of 74.89% (173/231) of the children with ASD received a rehabilitation intervention at home. A total of 66.67% of the parents were satisfied with the treatment. The monthly cost of medical intervention for the patients of children with autism was 7,225 ± 474 RMB ($1,134 ± 74), and the non-medical intervention cost was 2,133 ± 107 RMB ($334 ± 17). The annual burden of patients with autism was 86,700 ± 5,688 RMB ($13,596 ± 892). The estimated total annual burden of ASD was 5.548 billion RMB ($870 million) in Guizhou province.ConclusionThe results revealed that rehabilitation resources are limited and that the burden of ASD is high in Guizhou province; therefore, improving the rehabilitation status and easing the burden of children with ASD is urgent in these regions.

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Urgency in Improving Child Health Care Workers' Awareness and Knowledge of ASD: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Cited by 11 publications

References 32 publications

Factors affecting knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among pediatric residents in eastern China: a cross-sectional study

Factors affecting knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among pediatric residents in eastern China: a cross-sectional study

Factors affecting knowledge of autism spectrum disorder among pediatric residents in eastern China: A cross-sectional study

The intervention dilemma and high burden of children with autism in Guizhou province, Southwest China

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