Evaluation of Pediatricians' Knowledge of Autism in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition, and early detection is essential for improving outcomes. Pediatricians are often the first point of contact; however, their knowledge of ASD in Saudi Arabia remains unclear.

Objective: The aim of this sudy was to evaluate the knowledge of pediatricians in Saudi Arabia regarding childhood autism using the validated Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) questionnaire.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 357 pediatricians practicing in Saudi Arabia from September 2021 to August 2022. Participants completed the 19-item KCAHW questionnaire, which covered four knowledge domains: social interaction impairments, communication impairments, repetitive behaviors, and classification/comorbidities. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses (t-tests, analysis of variance, and regression models) assessed associations between participant characteristics and knowledge scores.

Results: The mean overall knowledge score was 15.24 ± 2.23 out of 19. While most participants performed well in the communication domain (90.5% scored above average), only 49.6% scored above average in social interaction knowledge. Pediatricians trained abroad scored significantly higher in domains 1 and 2. Subspecialists, particularly those in developmental/behavioral pediatrics and neurology, scored the highest. Pediatricians with 4-6 years of experience showed a positive association with overall knowledge.

Conclusion: Pediatricians in Saudi Arabia demonstrated above-average knowledge of ASD, significant gaps remain - particularly in social interaction and comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for enhanced ASD-focused training, particularly for locally trained and early-career pediatricians.