Addressing medical needs of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in a primary care setting
Open accessAbstract
Little has been reported about how to improve health care access and delivery for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. To understand the contributions to the health disparities in the autism spectrum disorder population, we conducted two independent research approaches to learn about current medical needs. A retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate medical comorbidities and medication use. A focus group was also created to address barriers faced in providing medical care. Of 126 charts reviewed, 49% (n = 62) had intellectual disability, 49% (n = 62) had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, 52% (n = 65) had anxiety, 41% (n = 52) had obesity, 31% (n = 39) with a history of aggressive behavior, 31% (n = 31) had depression, 22% (n = 28) had seizures, and 9% (n = 11) had hypertension. A Medical Regimen Complexity Index score was determined to examine medication use trends in the autism spectrum disorder population. Medical Regimen Complexity Index scores were significantly higher for patients with intellectual disability, patients with seizures, and patients with a history of aggressive behavior. Both the focus group and our pre-visit assessment identified the waiting room and waiting time as barriers to care. Understanding the comorbidities, polypharmacy, and medical barriers should provide a better understanding of the current health care access and delivery needs of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder.
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Long waiting times are a major cause of anxiety and stress.
“Long waiting times are a major cause of anxiety and stress.25,32,45,78,79”
From Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review (2020) · cites this paper as [79]
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References 24 · Cited by 114
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Braun E (2016) Framing wicked problems using CoDesign and a hybrid design toolset. Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. Available at: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/
- Authors
- Saqr, Y., Braun, E., Porter, K., Barnette, D., & Hanks, C.
- Affiliations
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hanks, Christopher
- Venue
- Autism
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-07-28
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 51-61
- ISSN
- 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7005
- PMC
- PMC5788079
- OpenAlex
- W2740604847
- Cited by
- 114
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 5.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Autism (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, adolescents and adults with autism, primary care, health care access, health disparities, comorbidities, polypharmacy, medication regimen complexity, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, seizures, aggression
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Male, Primary Health Care, Retrospective Studies, Focus Groups, Needs Assessment, Young Adult, Transition to Adult Care
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