Predictors of caregiver satisfaction with a hybrid care model for autism diagnostic evaluations

Background

Decreased access to diagnostic services is a known barrier in autism care management. Utilizing a hybrid care model incorporating telehealth and face-to-face appointments may be one option to increase access to care. The current study examined caregivers' satisfaction with a hybrid model used to administer pediatric autism diagnostic evaluations.

Methods

We used a quantitative research design with convenience sampling to administer a telehealth satisfaction survey to caregivers of children living in medically underserved areas who were referred for an autism diagnostic evaluation. Timeliness and accuracy of diagnostic evaluations via the hybrid model were also assessed.

Findings

Most caregivers did not report barriers to telehealth, and indicated the hybrid services were either better or equal to traditional appointments. Clinician competence and courtesy, the importance of the child's care to the staff, and access to telehealth appointments predicted caregiver satisfaction with the hybrid care model. The hybrid care model resulted in improved timeliness, and the accuracy of the evaluation results was verified with those obtained using traditional, face-to-face evaluations.

Discussion

A hybrid care model may be a solution to increase access to autism diagnostic evaluations for pediatric patients, especially for those living in medically underserved areas.

Clinicians who administer autism screening assessments should consider incorporating telehealth appointments to facilitate pediatric autism diagnostic evaluations. Clinicians referring a patient to a hybrid program should assess for potential factors that would impede the use of telehealth prior to referral.