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Brief Report: Knowledge and Confidence of Emergency Medical Service Personnel Involving Treatment of an Individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

In order to best respond to an emergency situation, professionals need to have an understanding about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and techniques that will ensure proper care. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and confidence of EMS personnel on interacting and treating an individual with ASD. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), and Paramedics were surveyed on their knowledge of ASD; familiarity or experience with ASD, and level of comfort responding to emergencies involving an individual with ASD. The results found that autism-specific training and resources were associated with higher comfort levels, but not knowledge. It was also determined that newer and younger professionals had higher knowledge and comfort when compared to the more experienced and older professionals.

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Author contributions

Dr. DW conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, carried out the analyses, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the submission of the final manuscript. Dr. LP reviewed and revised the manuscript, played prominent roles in the design of the methods, analyses and results, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 233 Zink Hall, 1190 Maple St, Indiana, PA, 15705, USA

    David Wachob

  2. Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2712 West Pike Road, Indiana, PA, 15701, USA

    Louis J. Pesci

Authors
  1. David Wachob
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  2. Louis J. Pesci
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Correspondence to David Wachob.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Wachob and Dr. Pesci declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Wachob, D., Pesci, L.J. Brief Report: Knowledge and Confidence of Emergency Medical Service Personnel Involving Treatment of an Individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 47, 887–891 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2957-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2957-4

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