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Pediatric Healthcare Professionals’ Views on Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening at 12–18 Months

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Abstract

This study explored North Carolina pediatric healthcare professional’s (PHP) perceptions of screening 12–18 month old infants for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Eight focus groups (66 PHPs) were conducted across practice settings. The purpose was to explore PHP’s perspectives to: inform development of ASD screening tools and ultimately impact their use in PHP settings. PHPs reported concerns, barriers, and the need for research to support early ASD screening. Additionally, they expressed the need for: (a) clear “red flags” of ASD for 12–18 month olds; (b) socioculturally sensitive and effective screening tools; (c) effective early interventions; (d) systems to handle potential increases in referrals; and (e) continuing education. PHPs also demonstrated preferences about screening tool characteristics and processes for enhancing screening efforts.

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Notes

  1. The term pediatric healthcare professional (PHP) will be used throughout this paper to refer to the pediatricians, family practice physicians, pediatric nurses, pediatric physician assistants, residents, and social workers/service coordinators who were part of the developmental monitoring, screening, and referral process for young children within the pediatric or family care settings in our study. We included all these professionals following the work of Van Cleave et al. (2012) who advocate for full office inclusion in examining office practices. The term primary care provider will refer more traditionally to physicians.

  2. Italicized words denote emphasis by the speaker.

Abbreviations

PHP:

Pediatric healthcare professionals

ASD:

Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina, CB 7190, 3126 Bondurant Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7190, USA

    Elizabeth R. Crais, Cara S. McComish & Linda R. Watson

  2. University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, Durham, NH, USA

    Betsy P. Humphreys

  3. Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of North Carolina, CB 7122, 2065 Bondurant Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7122, USA

    Grace T. Baranek

  4. Developmental Psychology, University of North Carolina, CB 3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3270, USA

    J. Steven Reznick

  5. Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, CB 7255, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3366, USA

    Rob B. Christian

  6. Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine, Highpoint, NC, USA

    Marian Earls

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  1. Elizabeth R. Crais
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  2. Cara S. McComish
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  3. Betsy P. Humphreys
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  4. Linda R. Watson
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  8. Marian Earls
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Correspondence to Elizabeth R. Crais.

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Crais, E.R., McComish, C.S., Humphreys, B.P. et al. Pediatric Healthcare Professionals’ Views on Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening at 12–18 Months. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 2311–2328 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2101-2

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