Clinician Perspectives on Telehealth Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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ABSTRACT: Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10803-022-05435-z.
SUBMITTER: Kryszak E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8804366 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:ObjectiveThe purpose of the current study was to explore provider perspectives on the strengths and challenges of telehealth services (e.g., behavioral interventions, physical, speech, and occupational therapy, medication management) for children with ASD during COVID-19 related shutdowns.MethodsFrom September 2020 to May 2021, we conducted qualitative interviews with 35 providers across multiple disciplines from 17 sites in the Autism Care Network. Qualitative data was analyzed using a framework approach and common themes were identified.ResultsProviders across clinical disciplines identified strengths of the virtual model, such as its flexibility and the opportunity it provided to see children in their home environment. They also indicated that some interventions worked better virtually than others, and that there were several factors that impacted their success. Respondents were generally satisfied providing parent-mediated interventions but expressed mixed satisfaction in using telehealth for direct-to-patient care.ConclusionsResults suggest that telehealth services for children with ASD could be a helpful tool in decreasing barriers and improving service delivery, especially when tailored to the individual needs of the patient. More research is needed on the factors contributing to its success in order to eventually inform clinical guidelines regarding the prioritization of children seen for in-person visits.
| S-EPMC9985515 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The present study examines provider and caregiver satisfaction with telehealth evaluation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children during the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. A telehealth model of ASD evaluation was implemented with 308 children ages 14 to 78 months between May 2020 to June 2021. Data were gathered from electronic health records, autism-specific telehealth diagnostic tools, and post-evaluation surveys. Overall, the majority of providers and caregivers were satisfied with telehealth ASD evaluation. Multiple variables were associated with ratings of satisfaction, differing by providers and caregivers. Findings have important implications for the feasibility and acceptability of telehealth ASD evaluations, in addition to key factors to consider in optimizing and sustaining telehealth evaluations beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
| S-EPMC9112250 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AimTo investigate a novel observational rating protocol designed to expedite clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).MethodTwo hundred and forty patients referred to a tertiary autism center (median age 8y 9mo, range 2y 6mo-34y 8mo; 188 males, 52 females) were rated using an adaptation of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2) based exclusively on patient observation (CARS-2obs ). Scores were compared to expert diagnosis of ASD, parent-reported Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) and, in a selected subset of patients, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2).ResultsCARS-2obs distinguished patients with a clinical diagnosis of ASD from those with non-ASD neuropsychiatric disorders (mean score=18 vs 11.7, p<0.001). Severity ratings on the CARS-2obs correlated with the ADOS-2 (r=0.68, ρ=0.64) and SRS-2 (r=0.31, ρ=0.32). A CARS-2obs cutoff point equal to or greater than 16 demonstrated 95.8% specificity and 62.3% sensitivity in discriminating individuals with ASD from individuals without ASD in a specialty referral setting.InterpretationThe CARS-2obs allows the rapid acquisition of quantitative ratings of autistic severity by direct observation. Coupled with parent/teacher-reported symptoms and developmental history, the measure may contribute to a low-cost diagnostic paradigm in clinical and public health settings, where positive results might help reduce delays in diagnosis, and negative results could prompt further specialty assessment.What this paper addsThe Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition based on patient observation distinguished individuals with versus without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A score equal to or greater than 16 on this assessment showed high specificity for a diagnosis of ASD.
| S-EPMC7540056 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rapid increase in the use of telehealth to deliver services to autistic individuals and their families. Research into the provision of autism assessments via telehealth is limited and few studies have explored clinician perspectives of conducting diagnostic assessments for autism in this way. The objective of this study was to examine the acceptability of a new telehealth model from the perspective of key stakeholder groups in an Australian community-based sample i.e. clients undergoing assessment, parent/carers and expert clinicians.MethodsSixteen adult clients (M age = 39.00, SD age = 14.39) and fifty-six parent/carers of children and adults (M age = 44.09, SD age = 9.87) undergoing autism assessments completed an online survey about their experiences of assessments via telehealth. Of these, six clients and twelve parent/carers agreed to participate in follow up interviews. Seven clinicians were also interviewed.ResultsIn this study, the majority of adults and parent/carers reported that they, or the person they cared for, felt comfortable interacting with the clinician, would be willing to undergo future assessments via telehealth and were not concerned that important information had been missed during the assessment. Although the clinicians were slightly less satisfied with tele-assessment process compared to face-to-face and relied on external sources of information more than they would during a face-to-face assessment, their overall confidence in their diagnostic decision making remained high.ConclusionAutism assessment via telehealth may be an acceptable alternative in some circumstances. However, a telehealth service should consider screening clients for suitability and adequately preparing clients for tele-assessments.
| S-EPMC8421202 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19-related lockdown interrupted children's learning progress and discontinued social learning and regular activities that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rely on socially and physically. Negative consequences for children with ASD were reported far and wide. To investigate this problem in Kazakhstan, we conducted a mixed-methods study that drew on data from an online survey with 97 parents and semi-structured interviews with 14 parents. While parent-report quantitative results suggest that children were likely to experience negative impacts of the pandemic due to disrupted educational and therapeutic services, qualitative findings confirm that they have experienced an elevated mental health and behavioral challenges during the lockdown. Remote educational and therapeutic services were not helpful as families coped with pandemic-caused problems on their own. We highlight that continued support and care during and after a crisis is vital not only for children with ASD but also for the families under-resourced mentally and socially.
| S-EPMC9359431 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Psychological and mental health consequences of large-scale anti-contagion policies are assuming strong relevance in the COVID-19 pandemic. We proposed a specific focus on a large sample of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), developing an ad hoc instrument to investigate changes occurred in specific (sub-)domains during a period of national lockdown (Italy). Our questionnaire, named AutiStress, is both context-specific (being set in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario) and condition-specific (being structured taking into account the autistic functioning peculiarities in the paediatric age). An age- and gender-matched group of neurotypical (TD) controls was also provided. As expected, the severe lockdown policies had a general negative impact both on ASD and TD children, reflecting the obvious burden of the pandemic situation. However, our findings also indicate that children with ASD experienced more positive changes than TD ones. Noteworthy, we report a thought-provoking double dissociation in the context-specific predictor (i.e., accessibility to private outdoor spaces), indicating that it impacts differently on the two groups. Focusing on the ASD group, results suggest a condition-specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on core autistic (sub-)domains. Taken together, our data call for a multi-layered, context- and condition-specific analysis of the pandemic burden beyond any oversimplification.
| S-EPMC8608876 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at elevated risk for psychiatric problems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This risk is due to their high rates of pre-pandemic psychiatric comorbidities and the pandemic's disruption to routines and access to necessary supports. Prior research has indicated that children with ASD may experience a worsening of specific psychiatric symptoms in response to COVID-19, though this body of work is limited in scope. The present study expands this literature by examining specific types of psychiatric problems that emerged about 2 months after the onset of the pandemic, and risk factors predicting changes in these psychiatric symptoms. Parents of children with a confirmed ASD diagnosis (N = 257), who enrolled in a clinic registry at an outpatient specialty autism center, were included in this study. All data were gathered online via customized and standardized questionnaires. Results showed that 59% of children experienced either a worsening of their pre-pandemic psychiatric diagnoses and/or the development of new psychiatric symptoms during the pandemic. Multivariable regression models indicated that risk factors for increased psychiatric problems included child understanding of COVID-19, COVID-19 illness in the family, low family income, and elevated parental depression and anxiety symptoms (all p < 0.05). Findings from this study emphasize the urgent need to provide effective and accessible psychiatric services for children with ASD and their families during and after the pandemic. LAY SUMMARY: Children with ASD are at high risk for psychiatric problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that 59% of children in our clinical sample are experiencing increased psychiatric problems. The child's understanding of COVID-19, COVID-19 illness in the family, low family income, and depression and anxiety symptoms in the parent increase the risk for poor mental health during the pandemic. These findings indicate the importance of helping children with ASD access mental health treatment during COVID-19.
| S-EPMC8420610 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundScreening and diagnostic assessments tools for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are important to administer during childhood to facilitate timely entry into intervention services that can promote developmental outcomes across the lifespan. However, assessment services are not always readily available to families, as they require significant time and resources. Currently, in-person screening and diagnostic assessments for ASD are limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be a concern for situations that limit in-person contact. Thus, it is important to expand the modalities in which child assessments are provided, including the use of technology.AimsThis systematic review aims to identify technologies that screen or assess for ASD in 0-12 year-old children, summarizing the current state of the field and suggesting future directions.MethodsAn electronic database search was conducted to gather relevant articles to synthesize for this review.Outcomes and results16 studies reported use of novel technology to assess children suspected of ASD.Conclusions and implicationsResults strongly supported live-video evaluations, video observations, and online or phone methods, but there is a need for research targeting the feasibility of these methods as it applies to the stay-at-home orders required by the pandemic, and other situations that limit clients from seeing providers in-person.
| S-EPMC9761928 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated alterations in provision of health care and how patients access it. Telehealth has replaced traditional face-to-face outpatient clinics in an unprecedented manner. This study aimed to assess overall patient and clinician satisfaction with telehealth consultations, to establish acceptability of telehealth during pandemic and non-pandemic times, and document feedback.Materials and methodsA prospective observational study involving women presenting to a general gynaecology outpatient department was performed. Women who attended for consultation between 13 July and 4 September 2020 were invited to participate in a questionnaire following their telehealth appointment. Clinicians consulting in the outpatient department were invited to complete a questionnaire at the end of the eight-week study period. Satisfaction, utility and acceptability data were obtained using visual analogue scales (VAS).ResultsTwenty-six out of 56 (46.4%) clinicians and 124/870 (14.3%) patients completed the questionnaire. Patients who responded were older and more likely to have been born in Australia than women who did not (P = 0.0355 and P = 0.005, respectively). Overall patient satisfaction with telehealth was high (median VAS (interquartile range), 8.6 (5.6-9.8)). More women found telehealth to be acceptable during a pandemic than afterward (8.9 vs 6.6, P < 0.0001). Clinicians were less satisfied with telehealth than patients (7.1 vs 8.6, P = 0.02); however, most would be happy to continue using telehealth in non-pandemic times (7.0 (6.2-9.8)).ConclusionTelehealth consultations allow provision of gynaecological care at a time when reducing risk of infection to patients and staff is paramount. Telehealth gynaecology consultations are efficient and convenient without significant detriment to patient or clinician satisfaction.
| S-EPMC9111195 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This commentary describes the transition to remote delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participates in a clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 on children's anxiety and on the family functioning are discussed. Modifications to CBT necessitated by telehealth delivery were aimed at maximizing engagement of children and their parents while maintaining treatment fidelity and adhering to the research protocol. Treatment targets were updated to address new sources of anxiety and CBT exposure exercises were modified to accommodate the new reality of quarantine restrictions. If the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect treatment delivery it may require a widespread utilization of telehealth for treating anxiety in children with ASD.
| S-EPMC7775616 | biostudies-literature