Knowledge of Childhood Autism among Health Workers of Peshawar: A Cross-Sectional Study
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms is crucial for timely intervention services and a better prognosis. Healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in recognizing ASD features, diagnosis, and providing support. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of healthcare workers in Peshawar regarding childhood autism.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge among healthcare professionals in Peshawar, Pakistan, regarding the early symptoms, diagnosis, and intervention strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in order to identify knowledge gaps and inform the development of targeted educational and training programs.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to February 2022 in public and private hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. Data were collected using the convenience sampling method. A total of 270 healthcare professionals (Doctors, Dentists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech & Language Pathologists) participated. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive analysis calculated the mean of each domain and the total score, and frequencies for gender, age, and occupation.
Results: The total mean score of the study population was 10.40. The mean score in Domain 1 (Social Interaction) was 4.73 (SD ±1.53), in Domain 2 (Language) was 0.60 (SD ±0.499), in Domain 3 (Behaviors) was 2.38 (SD ±1.102), and in Domain 4 (Etiology) it was 2.74 (SD ±1.214).
Conclusion: Healthcare professionals in Peshawar, Pakistan, demonstrated limited knowledge about the early symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These findings have significant implications for policy and practice, health profession program directors, and future research.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Gabbay-Dizdar N, Ilan M, Meiri G, Faroy M, Michaelovski A, Flusser H, et al. Early diagnosis of autism in the community is associated with marked improvement in social symptoms within 1–2 years. Autism. 2022 Aug 1;26(6):1353–63.
Khalid M, Raza H, Driessen TM, Lee PJ, Tejwani L, Sami A, et al. Genetic Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Pakistani Population. Genes. 2020 Oct 15;11(10):1206.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. 2013. Available from: https://www.academia.edu/download/38718268/csl6820_21.pdf
Evers K, Maljaars J, Carrington SJ, Carter AS, Happé F, Steyaert J, et al. How well are DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ASD represented in standardized diagnostic instruments? Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 1;30(1):75–87.
Brian JA, Zwaigenbaum L, Ip A. Standards of diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder. Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Oct 24;24(7):444–51.
Robins DL, Casagrande K, Barton M, Chen CMA, Dumont-Mathieu T, Fein D. Validation of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised With Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F).
Rylaarsdam L, Guemez-Gamboa A. Genetic Causes and Modifiers of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 Aug 20;13:470832.
Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM, Kuo DZ, Apkon CS, Davidson LF, et al. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020 Jan 1;145(1).
Matthews NL, Smith CJ, Pollard E, Ober-Reynolds S, Kirwan J, Malligo A. Adaptive Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder During the Transition to Adulthood. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Aug 27;45(8):2349–60.
Pérez‐Crespo L, Prats‐Uribe A, Tobias A, Duran‐Tauleria E, Coronado R, Hervás A, et al. Temporal and Geographical Variability of Prevalence and Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses in Children in Catalonia, Spain. Autism Res. 2019 Nov 17;12(11):1693–705.
Hodges H, Fealko C, Soares N. Autism spectrum disorder: definition, epidemiology, causes, and clinical evaluation. Transl Pediatr. 2020 Feb 1;9(Suppl 1):S55.
Lee MC, Chin HE, Ahmad K. Assessment of Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Pharmacists and Doctors in Miri Hospital. Sarawak J Pharm. 2020;6.
Yasuda Y, Matsumoto J, Miura K, Hasegawa N, Hashimoto R. Genetics of autism spectrum disorders and future direction. J Hum Genet. 2022 Aug 30;68(3):193–7.
Imran N, Chaudry MR, Azeem MW, Bhatti MR, Choudhary ZI, Cheema MA. A survey of Autism knowledge and attitudes among the healthcare professionals in Lahore, Pakistan. BMC Pediatr. 2011;11.
World Health Organization. Autism [Internet]. [cited 2023 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders?gclid=CjwKCAiApuCrBhAuEiwA8VJ6JoyuAeAFkCviaBDrOHX6vcaKp37cXkExhy_a7FjA0wyoJbgoMXUR0RoChucQAvD_BwE
Zeidan J, Fombonne E, Scorah J, Ibrahim A, Durkin MS, Saxena S, et al. Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism Res. 2022 May 1;15(5):778–90.
Baio J. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - Autism And Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2014 Mar 28;63(2):1.
Heys M, Alexander A, Medeiros E, Tumbahangphe KM, Gibbons F, Shrestha R, et al. Understanding parents’ and professionals’ knowledge and awareness of autism in Nepal. 2016 May 19. http://dx.doi.org/101177/1362361316646558
Hossain MD, Ahmed HU, Jalal Uddin MM, Chowdhury WA, Iqbal MS, Kabir RI, et al. Autism Spectrum disorders (ASD) in South Asia: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 1;17(1):1–7.
Rahbar MH, Ibrahim K, Assassi P. Knowledge and attitude of general practitioners regarding autism in Karachi, Pakistan. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;41(4):465–74.
Lappé M, Lau L, Dudovitz RN, Nelson BB, Karp EA, Kuo AA. The diagnostic odyssey of autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics. 2018 Apr 1;141(Supplement 4):S272–9.
Rojas-Torres LP, Alonso-Esteban Y, Alcantud-Marín F. Early Intervention with Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Programs. Children. 2020 Dec 15;7(12):294.
Gilbert M, Gore K, Hawke M, Barbaro J. Development, delivery, and evaluation of a training program for the early identification of autism: Monitoring of Social Attention, Interaction, and Communication. Front Neurol. 2023;14.
Corden K, Brewer R, Cage E. A Systematic Review of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Towards Working with Autistic People. Rev J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Sep 1;9(3):386–99.
Coughlan B, Duschinsky R, O’Connor ME, Woolgar M. Identifying and managing care for children with autism spectrum disorders in general practice: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Health Soc Care Community. 2020 Nov 1;28(6):1928–41.
Ozdemir M. Adaptation of the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) Questionnaire aimed for usage in Turkey. North Clin Istanbul. 2019;7(1):40.
Barbaro J, Winata T, Gilbert M, Nair R, Khan F, Lucien A, et al. General practitioners’ perspectives regarding early developmental surveillance for autism within the Australian primary healthcare setting: a qualitative study. BMC Prim Care. 2023 Dec 1;24(1):1–15.
Morris R, Greenblatt A, Saini M. Healthcare Providers’ Experiences with Autism: A Scoping Review. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Jun 15;49(6):2374–88.
Harrison AJ, Slane MM, Hoang L, Campbell JM. An international review of autism knowledge assessment measures. Autism. 2017 Apr 8;21(3):262–75. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27154908
Hayat AA, Meny AH, Salahuddin N, Alnemary FM, Ahuja KR, Azeem MW. Assessment of knowledge about childhood autism spectrum disorder among healthcare workers in Makkah- Saudi Arabia. Pakistan J Med Sci. 2019 Jul 1;35(4):951–7.
Noor N, Talha M, Aftab Ahmad S, Mohydin M, Saqib S, Shah A, et al. Evaluation of the prevalence of childhood autism awareness amongst medical professionals in Pakistan. Pjmhsonline.com. 2021;15(6):1356.
Amyn A. Autism Spectrum Disorder in Pakistan.
Rahbar MH, Ibrahim K, Assassi P. Knowledge and Attitude of General Practitioners Regarding Autism in Karachi, Pakistan.
Imran N, Azeem MW. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Perspective from Pakistan. 2014.
Rahbar MH, Ibrahim K, Assassi P. Knowledge and attitude of general practitioners regarding autism in Karachi, Pakistan. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Apr 15;41(4):465–74.
Bakare MO, Ebigbo PO, Agomoh AO, Menkiti NC. Knowledge about childhood autism among health workers (KCAHW) questionnaire: Description, reliability and internal consistency. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Heal. 2008 Jun 6;4(1):1–8.
Salama HM. Assessment of family physicians’ knowledge of childhood autism. Fam Med Community Heal. 2017 Dec 1;5(4):266–74.
Anwar MS, Tahir M, Nusrat K, Khan MR. Knowledge, Awareness, and Perceptions Regarding Autism Among Parents in Karachi, Pakistan. Cureus. 2018 Sep 14;10(9).
Shaukat F, Fatima A, Zehra N, Hussein MAG, Ismail O. Assessment of knowledge about childhood autism among medical students from private and public universities in Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc. 2014;64(11):1331–4.
Ellias S, Shah H. A study of assessment of knowledge of childhood autism among medical students in Mumbai. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2019 Apr 1;22(2):164–9.
Material and Methods. Available from: http://medpress.com.pl/shop