MEDICAL EDUCATION / CLINICAL RESEARCH
Evaluating physician knowledge of autism spectrum disorder: addressing diagnostic challenges, comorbidities, and the need for targeted education
More details
Hide details
1
School of Public Health, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
Submission date: 2025-01-04
Final revision date: 2025-05-14
Acceptance date: 2025-05-15
Online publication date: 2025-06-25
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with diverse symptoms and frequent comorbidities, posing diagnostic challenges. Despite advances in ASD awareness and diagnostic methods, significant knowledge gaps persist among healthcare professionals. This study assessed physicians’ knowledge of ASD, focusing on symptoms, comorbidities, and diagnostic challenges to enhance patient care.
Material and methods:
This study, conducted in 2024, involved physicians attending courses at the Center of Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw (CMKP). Participation was anonymous and voluntary. Respondents completed the author’s own questionnaire and the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) questionnaire to assess autism knowledge across four domains: social interaction impairments, communication issues, obsessive behaviors, and disorder onset and comorbidities. Physicians also provided professional and demographic data.
Results:
The study included 395 physicians, primarily young (mean age: 31), female (75%), and in early career stages, with most having up to five years of experience. While 75% had some contact with individuals on the autism spectrum, only 28% had close family or acquaintances with ASD. Knowledge about autism was moderate, averaging 74% correct responses, with higher accuracy in recognizing social interaction impairments (80%) and repetitive behaviors (78.5%), but lower accuracy regarding comorbidities (63%). Younger, less experienced physicians, women, and those with personal ASD contact had higher knowledge about autism.
Conclusions:
The study highlights the need for targeted ASD education to address specific knowledge gaps among healthcare professionals, essential for providing informed and compassionate care.
REFERENCES (27)
1.
Singhi P, Malhi P. Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: what the pediatricians should know. Indian J Pediatr 2023; 90: 364-8.
2.
Kodak T, Bergmann S. Autism spectrum disorder: characteristics, associated behaviors, and early intervention. Pediatr Clin North Am 2020; 67: 525-35.
3.
Underwood JF, DelPozo-Banos M, Frizzati A, John A, Hall J. Evidence of increasing recorded diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in Wales, UK: an e-cohort study. Autism 2022; 26: 1499-508.
4.
Howlin P. Adults with autism: changes in understanding since DSM-11. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51: 4291-308.
5.
Samadi SA. Overview of services for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and among Immigrants and Minority Groups in High-Income Countries (HICs). Brain Sci 2022; 12: 1682.
6.
McConkey R. Responding to autism in low and middle income countries (LMIC): what to do and what not to do. Brain Sci 2022; 12: 1475.
7.
Akhtayeva N, Kosherbayeva L, Imamatdinova A, Šmigelskas K. Wellbeing of parents raising children with autism spectrum disorder and the role of psychologists. Arch Med Sci 2025; 21: 858-67.
8.
Antshel KM, Russo N. Autism spectrum disorders and ADHD: overlapping phenomenology, diagnostic issues, and treatment considerations. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2019; 21: 34.
9.
Mosner MG, Kinard JL, Shah JS, et al. Rates of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in autism spectrum disorder using the mini international neuropsychiatric interview. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49: 3819-32.
10.
Waizbard-Bartov E, Ferrer E, Young GS, et al. Trajectories of autism symptom severity change during early childhood. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51: 227-42.
11.
Dawson G, Jones EJH, Merkle K, et al. Early behavioral intervention is associated with normalized brain activity in young children with autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019; 58: 39-47.
12.
Walton KM, Borowy AR, Gordon RA, Wainer AL. Enhancing stakeholder roles in autism early interventions in the United States: a stakeholder-driven research agenda. Autism 2024; 28: 1120-34.
13.
Wieckowski AT, Ramsey RK, Coulter K, et al. Role of primary care clinician concern during screening for early identification of autism. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2024; 45: e187-94.
14.
Clarke L, Fung LK. The impact of autism-related training programs on physician knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice behavior: a systematic review. Autism 2022; 26: 1626-40.
15.
Lenart A, Pasternak J. Resources, problems and challenges of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and support system in Poland. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53: 1629-41.
16.
Kostiukow A, Poniewierski P, Strzelecki W, Samborski W. Assessment of student’s knowledge and awareness of autism spectrum disorder. Pol Merkur Lekarski 2020; 48: 87-92.
17.
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 Health 2008; 4: 17.
18.
Ozdemir M, Ilgin C, Karavus M, et al. Adaptation of the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) Questionnaire: Turkish version. North Clin Istanb 2019; 7: 40-8.
19.
Corsano P, Cinotti M, Guidotti L. Paediatric nurses’ knowledge and experience of autism spectrum disorders: an Italian survey. J Child Health Care 2020; 24: 486-95.
20.
Kilicaslan F, Karatas H, Kulu H, Solmaz A. Knowledge about childhood autism among nurses in family health centers in southeast Turkey. Int J Dev Disabil 2022; 70: 824-32.
21.
Ellias SD, Shah HR. A study of assessment of knowledge of childhood autism among medical students in Mumbai. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2019; 22: 164-9.
22.
Zarokanellou V, Papagiannopoulou E, Gryparis A, et al. Healthcare students’ perceptions and attitudes towards peers with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2025; 55: 2492-502.
23.
Navarro-Pardo E, Alonso-Esteban Y, Alcantud-Marin F, Murphy M. Do Savant syndrome and autism spectrum disorders share sex differences? A comprehensive review. J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 34: 117-24.
24.
Yu L, Stronach S, Harrison AJ. Public knowledge and stigma of autism spectrum disorder: comparing China with the United States. Autism 2020; 24: 1531-45.
25.
Alyami HS, Naser AY, Alyami MH, Alharethi SH, Alyami AM. Knowledge and attitudes toward autism spectrum disorder in Saudi Arabia. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19: 3648.
26.
Penner M, Senman L, Andoni L, et al. Concordance of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder made by pediatricians vs a multidisciplinary specialist team. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6: e2252879.
27.
Price JR, Cooper-Duffy K, Ogletree BT, et al. Interprofessional education on autism and intellectual disabilities: program description and initial evaluation. Sch Psychol 2024; 39: 419-32.