Cecil G Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 MLK Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7590, USA.
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Renee Lynne Ct, Carrboro, NC, 27510, USA.
J Autism Dev Disord. 2018 Jul;48(7):2368-2378. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3493-1.
This paper examines family experiences with the efficiency of ASD diagnosis. Children were age 8 or younger with ASD (n = 450). Outcomes were delay from first parent concern to diagnosis, shifting diagnoses, and being told child did not have ASD. Predictors were screening, travel distance, and problems finding providers. Logit models were used to examine associations. Screening was associated with reduced delay in diagnosis; problems finding providers were associated with greater delay. Screening, travel distance, and delay in diagnosis were associated with shifting diagnoses and being told child did not have ASD. Physician and parent training in communication and addressing mental health professional shortages and maldistribution may improve the diagnosis experiences of families of children with ASD.
本研究考察了家庭在 ASD 诊断效率方面的经验。研究对象为年龄在 8 岁及以下的 ASD 儿童（n=450）。结果为从父母首次关注到诊断的延迟、诊断转换以及被告知孩子没有 ASD。预测因素为筛查、旅行距离和寻找提供者的问题。使用逻辑回归模型来检验关联。筛查与诊断延迟减少相关；寻找提供者的问题与更大的延迟相关。筛查、旅行距离和诊断延迟与诊断转换和被告知孩子没有 ASD 相关。对医生和家长进行沟通方面的培训，并解决精神卫生专业人员短缺和分布不均的问题，可能会改善 ASD 儿童家庭的诊断体验。
