Improving Primary Care Providers’ Confidence in Treating Children with Autism/Suspected Autism in a Rural Setting

Abstract

The goal of this study was to increase health care providers’ confidence in treating children with Autism/suspected Autism in a rural setting. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 36 children experience Autism in the United States (Maenner et al., 2023). Lack of training and knowledge are commonly cited as barriers by providers to confidently treat people with Autism (Brookman-Frazee et al., 2012). Parents and guardians of children living with Autism also cite lack of provider awareness and training as a significant barrier to accessing health care for their children (Malik-Soni et al., 2022). In rural settings, there is significant lack of access to care (Longtin & Principe, 2016).Via Zoom, providers completed nine half-hour lectures and case-based learning based on the Autism and Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions program (developed by Sean Inderbitzen, LCSW) based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing tools. Via a Qualtrics survey, providers reported confidence levels on The Therapy Confidence Scale – Intellectual Disabilities (pre- and post-intervention).Although there were fewer participants that completed the training than we hoped, confidence scores went up after training. Therefore, it would be valuable to repeat this intervention with a few changes. Our research could improve patient outcomes because this program is a viable option for engaging rural providers to help them become more comfortable in a clinical area of practice with patients with autism, which is a significant need in rural communities (like Barron and Rice Lake). Since Mayo Clinic Health Systems is one of the largest providers of primary care in Northwest Wisconsin, there is a need to ensure that providers can meet the needs of children with Autism and their families, especially for the most vulnerable who are unable to travel out of the area for care.