The PAAFID project: exploring the perspectives of autism in adult females among intellectual disability healthcare professionals

IF 1.1 Q4 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL

Advances in Autism Pub Date : 2019-07-03 DOI:10.1108/AIA-09-2018-0033

S. Tromans, V. Chester, C. Kapugama, A. Elliott, Sarah Robertson, M. Barrett

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引用次数: 4

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals on autism in adult females with intellectual disability (ID), including regarding the gender ratio of autism, the clinical manifestation of autism in females, and the recognition, screening and diagnosis of autism. Design/methodology/approach The questionnaire was developed following a review of the relevant literature and distributed to professionals within three healthcare trusts as well as members of two clinical research groups. The questionnaire was completed by 80 ID healthcare professionals. Data were aggregated and analysed using Microsoft Excel. Findings ID healthcare professionals had a lack of recognition of the smaller gender ratio of autism in patients with ID as compared to those without ID. Most respondents reported believing that autism manifests differently in females; with women demonstrating a greater ability to mask their symptoms. A considerable proportion of participants reported feeling less confident in recognising, screening and diagnosing autism in female patients, with many endorsing a wish for additional training in this area. Practical implications These findings suggest that ID healthcare professionals are keen to improve their skills in providing services for women with autism. Training programmes at all levels should incorporate the specific needs of women with ASD, and individual professionals and services should actively seek to address these training needs in order to promote best practice and better outcomes for women with autism. Originality/value This is the first published questionnaire exploring the perspectives of healthcare professionals regarding autism in adult females with ID.

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PAAFID项目：探索智障医疗专业人员中成年女性自闭症的前景

目的探讨医护人员对成年智障女性自闭症的看法，包括自闭症的性别比例、女性自闭症的临床表现、自闭症的识别、筛查和诊断。设计/方法/方法调查问卷是在回顾相关文献后制定的，并分发给三家医疗保健信托机构的专业人员以及两个临床研究小组的成员。问卷由80名ID医疗保健专业人员完成。使用Microsoft Excel对数据进行汇总和分析。研究发现:医疗保健专业人员缺乏对自闭症患者中自闭症的性别比例比无自闭症患者小的认识。大多数受访者报告认为自闭症在女性中的表现不同;女性表现出更强的掩盖症状的能力。相当大比例的参与者报告说，在识别、筛查和诊断女性自闭症患者方面感到信心不足，许多人赞同在这一领域进行额外培训的愿望。这些发现表明，医疗保健专业人员迫切希望提高他们为患有自闭症的女性提供服务的技能。各级培训方案应纳入自闭症妇女的具体需求，个别专业人员和服务机构应积极寻求满足这些培训需求，以促进自闭症妇女的最佳做法和更好的结果。原创性/价值这是首次发表的调查问卷，探讨医疗保健专业人员对成年ID女性自闭症的看法。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advances in Autism PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL-

CiteScore

2.30

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Advances in Autism is unique in its focus on the health and care aspects and outcomes for people with autism. The journal''s content is international in focus and peer-reviewed. It includes the following: research-based articles evidence-based clinical and support articles articles on policy and advances in services where these can be internationally applied. Key areas of research covered include: clinical developments people''s experience through qualitative research policy debates and outcomes inclusion and quality of life developmental issues population and epidemiological studies services developments evidence-based reviews of key practice issues.