Autism Spectrum Disorder: Why is It Underdiagnosed in Primary Care?

Abstract

Objectives: When Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed early, successful results can be obtained with various therapies. It was aimed to investigate the awareness of primary care physicians about ASD, which plays an important role in its early diagnosis. Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, Family Physicians in Kütahya were reached and “Knowledge about childhood autism among health workers (KCAHW) questionnaire” was applied on a voluntary basis. Results: Of the 151 family physicians (FPs) in the study, 81.5% were general practitioners, 17.9% were FP specialists and 0.7% were other medical field specialists. Although 86.8% of the participants had received training on autism, 64.9% were determined to feel inadequate. The KCAHW score and awareness of those who followed patients with ASD, those who received theoretical training, women, and newer FPs in the profession were higher, but the awareness of only young FPs was statistically significant (p<0,05). Conclusions: FPs in primary care, the first meeting place for sick and healthy babies and children with health workers, have a lack of information about ASD; thus, they do not feel adequate. Therefore, ASD should be involved sufficiently especially in pediatrics, family medicine, public health and child psychiatry internships during medical education.

Keywords

• Autism
• awareness
• education
• family physician
• primary care.

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu: Birinci Basamakta Neden Az Tanı Almaktadır?

Abstract

Amaç: Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu (OSB) erken teşhis edildiğinde çeşitli tedavilerle başarılı sonuçlar alınabildiği bilinmektedir. Birinci basamak hekimlerinin erken tanısında önemli rol oynayan OSB'ye yönelik farkındalıklarının araştırılması amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Tanımlayıcı kesitsel tipteki bu çalışmada, Kütahya'da görev yapmakta olan Aile Hekimlerine ulaşılmış ve gönüllülük esasına dayalı olarak “Sağlık çalışanlarında çocukluk çağı otizmine ilişkin bilgiler (KCAHW) anketi” uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan 151 Aile Hekiminin (FP) %81.5'i pratisyen hekim, %17.9'u Aile Hekimliği uzmanı ve %0.7'si diğer tıp alanı uzmanlarıdır. Katılımcıların %86,8'i otizm konusunda eğitim almış olmasına rağmen, %64,9'unun kendini yetersiz hissettiği belirlendi. OSB'li hastaları takip edenlerin, teorik eğitim alanların, kadınların ve mesleğe yeni başlayan AP'lerin KCAHW skoru ve farkındalıkları daha yüksekti, ancak sadece genç AP'lerin farkındalığı istatistiksel olarak anlamlıydı (p<0,05). Sonuçlar: Hastaların, sağlıklı bebeklerin ve çocukların sağlık çalışanları ile ilk karşılaşma yeri olan birinci basamaktaki Aile Hekimlerinin OSB hakkında bilgi eksikliği olduğu, kendilerini yeterli hissetmediği saptandı. Bu nedenle tıp eğitimi sırasında özellikle pediatri, aile hekimliği, halk sağlığı ve çocuk psikiyatrisi stajlarında OSB'ye yeterince yer verilmelidir.

Keywords

• Otizm
• farkındalık
• eğitim
• Aile Hekimi
• Birinci Basamak.

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