Screening Based on Information Communication Technology for Detection of Autism Spectrum Disorders In Paediatric Outpatient Clinics of Primary Care of Castilla y León

Background:

Early detection of Autistic-Spectrum-Disorders (ASD) in toddlers has positive effects. Therefore paediatricians need to be provided with efficient tools but also need to improve their awareness on ASD early signs. Since 2005 a screening program of ASD has been operating in several paediatric outpatient clinics of Salamanca and Zamora.  As a result we now have a validated Spanish version of the MCHAT questionnaire, also the possibility of identification of cases long before, 80% of paediatricians’ participation, a good level of users’ content, and more healthcare coordination. This previous screening system was based on a phone follow-up confirmation, which most of the times entailed delays to the confirmation and diagnosis. This system did not contribute to the improvement of the paediatricians’ skills, showed difficulties to spread the program, and dragged out the uncertainty of many families.

Objectives:

To pilot an expandable screening program based on ICTs; to compare results with the traditional program; to implicate the healthcare personnel; to coordinate sanitary and social services; to reduce the delay timeslot, and to improve the users’ satisfaction.

Methods:

Involving eight primary care units from the public health system; both programs (traditional screening and ICTs screening based) were compared using measures of delayed diagnosis, qualitative analysis based on focus groups, and questionnaires on level of content of paediatricians, nurses and families

Results:

Reduction of costs, less diagnostic delay and of confirmation-diagnosis time period; increase of the implication of the units; better awareness of early signs; good attitudes to participate on ICTs based screening; higher level of fulfilment of the users.

Conclusions:

ICTs screening based seems to be more efficient than traditional. It improves the willingness of healthcare personnel and their awareness of early ASD signs; it is accepted by users and could be extended to 100% of Castilla y León.