| Description |
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability characterized by difficulties with social communication and repetitive and restrictive behaviors patterns (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 59 children were identified with ASD in the United States as of 2014 (Baio et. al., 2018). As the prevalence of ASD continues to rise, interaction within the medical environment is inevitable. The awareness of ASD among professionals in health care settings is essential in order to ensure accessibility and successful interactions between health care providers and youth with ASD. The purpose of this study was to identify the needs, challenges, and accommodations youth with ASD experience in the Utah healthcare setting from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Results showed that 94% of Utah HCPs have treated a patient with ASD. However, despite frequent interaction, HCPs were often untrained and therefore, lacked confidence in their interaction with patients with ASD. This results in HCPs experiencing challenges such as behavioral outbursts and communication difficulties when interacting with this population. The data obtained from this study will be used to identify the training and policies needed by HCPs to provide the highest quality of care possible to youth with ASD in Utah. |
