Johnson Norah, Van Hecke Amy
College of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Department of Psychology, Marquette University.
J Pediatr Nurs. 2015 Nov-Dec;30(6):e63-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2015.04.008. Epub 2015 May 15.
Autism diagnosis rates trail significantly in the African American community. This pre-test post-test pilot study evaluated an African American inner-city church health ambassadors (HAs) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) awareness training session. The participants included 12 HAs who attended the 1 hour training session organized by the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Results of surveys showed higher mean scores post training for (1) HA attitudes about the potential for children to improve with applied behavior analysis therapy; (2) HA self-efficacy for having information about ASD screening materials; (3) strategies HAs could use to help parents/caregivers of children with developmental delays and challenging behaviors; (4) HA confidence in referrals for children with signs of ASD; (5) HA knowledge of measures to take to maximize a child's chance of receiving an ASD evaluation; and (6) HA comfort for talking to parents about children with challenging behaviors. Several of these effects were maintained 3 months later. Findings underscore the usefulness of the intervention for increasing the dissemination of knowledge about ASD and the opportunity to positively affect ASD screening, early intervention, and policy standards applicable to this vulnerable population.
非裔美国人社区的自闭症诊断率显著落后。这项前后测试点研究评估了非裔美国人市中心教会健康大使（HAs）的自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）意识培训课程。参与者包括12名健康大使，他们参加了由美国全国浸信会大会组织的1小时培训课程。调查结果显示，培训后以下方面的平均得分更高：（1）健康大使对应用行为分析疗法可使儿童改善的可能性的态度；（2）健康大使获取ASD筛查材料信息的自我效能感；（3）健康大使可用于帮助发育迟缓及行为具有挑战性儿童的父母/照顾者的策略；（4）健康大使对为有ASD迹象儿童进行转诊的信心；（5）健康大使对采取措施以最大化儿童接受ASD评估机会的了解；（6）健康大使与有行为挑战儿童的父母交谈时的舒适度。其中一些效果在3个月后仍得以保持。研究结果强调了该干预措施对于增加ASD知识传播的有用性，以及对ASD筛查、早期干预和适用于这一弱势群体的政策标准产生积极影响的机会。
