Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Autism Research in Africa (CARA), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Autism Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
Autism Res. 2018 Nov;11(11):1511-1521. doi: 10.1002/aur.2018. Epub 2018 Oct 22.
There is a significant research-to-practice gap in early detection of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) worldwide but particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where expertise is limited and high-quality training is difficult to access. Autism Navigator® for Primary Care is a web-based course designed to increase awareness of red flags of ASD in the second year of life and thus promote earlier detection and referral for intervention. It contains extensive video illustrations that offer rapid access to multiple exemplars of ASD red flags. This study examined aspects of feasibility of the Autism Navigator® for Primary Care in one LMIC, South Africa. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental design was used to examine relevant professionals' implementation of the course and measure changes in their knowledge of red flags after training. Perceptions of the acceptability, demand, and practicality of the course were explored in focus groups. Sixty-two providers completed the course online with a 94% completion rate. Built-in learner assessment pass rates ranged from 88% to 100%. Second-language English speakers took longer to complete the learner assessments, and professionals with less access to the Internet spent less time in the course. Participants' perceptions of the acceptability, demand, and practicality of the course were mostly positive with some suggestions made for local conditions. Results supported the feasibility of the course in this LMIC with some supports required pertaining to language and Internet access. We propose that this training has the potential to lower the age of detection of ASD in South Africa and other LMICs. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1511-1521. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Professionals in low- and middle-income countries urgently need training to recognize red flags of autism in very young children. The feasibility of utilizing the Autism Navigator® for Primary Care course for this training was explored with 62 South African professionals. After training, professionals' knowledge of early red flags improved, and most reported the course important and needed in South Africa. They found the web-based design mostly acceptable, practical, and culturally applicable. The course could help lower the age of autism detection.
在全球范围内，特别是在中低收入国家（LMIC），都存在着自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）早期检测方面的研究与实践差距，但这些国家专业知识有限，很难获得高质量的培训。Autism Navigator® for Primary Care 是一个基于网络的课程，旨在提高对生命第二年 ASD 危险信号的认识，从而促进更早的检测和转介进行干预。它包含广泛的视频说明，可快速访问多个 ASD 危险信号的范例。本研究在一个中低收入国家南非，考察了 Autism Navigator® for Primary Care 的可行性方面。采用混合方法准实验设计，考察了相关专业人员实施该课程的情况，并衡量了培训后他们对危险信号的认识的变化。在焦点小组中探讨了对课程的可接受性、需求和实用性的看法。62 名提供者在线完成了课程，完成率为 94%。内置学习者评估通过率范围从 88%到 100%。第二语言为英语的人完成学习者评估的时间较长，互联网访问较少的专业人员在课程中花费的时间较少。参与者对课程的可接受性、需求和实用性的看法大多是积极的，但也针对当地情况提出了一些建议。结果支持该课程在这个中低收入国家的可行性，需要在语言和互联网访问方面提供一些支持。我们认为，这种培训有可能降低南非和其他中低收入国家 ASD 的检测年龄。自闭症研究 2018, 11: 1511-1521. © 2018 自闭症国际研究协会，威利期刊，公司。
