Primary Care Providers' Perceived Barriers and Needs for Support in Caring for Children with Autism

Micah O Mazurek; Christina Harkins; Michelle Menezes; James Chan; Robert A Parker; Karen Kuhlthau; Kristin Sohl

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.01.014

Primary Care Providers' Perceived Barriers and Needs for Support in Caring for Children with Autism

J Pediatr. 2020 Jun:221:240-245.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.01.014. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Authors

Micah O Mazurek¹, Christina Harkins², Michelle Menezes², James Chan³, Robert A Parker⁴, Karen Kuhlthau⁵, Kristin Sohl⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Services, Curry School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: mazurekm@virginia.edu.
² Department of Human Services, Curry School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
³ Biostatistics Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Biostatistics Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
⁶ Department of Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.

PMID: 32143927
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.01.014

Abstract

A mixed methods approach was used to examine perspectives of 114 primary care providers regarding barriers and needs for support in caring for children with autism. The most common barriers related to lack of knowledge and resources for diagnosing and treating children with autism, and inadequate visit time and reimbursement.

Keywords: autism; autism spectrum disorder; healthcare barriers; healthcare delivery; healthcare needs.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Appointments and Schedules
Autistic Disorder / epidemiology*
Case Management
Clinical Competence
Female
Health Resources
Health Services Accessibility
Health Services Needs and Demand*
Humans
Insurance, Health, Reimbursement
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment*
Primary Health Care*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors
United States / epidemiology