Healthcare Independence in Autistic Adults Over Time
Author Information
Author(s): Daniel Gilmore, Deondray Radford, Alex Coyne, Christopher Hanks, Daniel Coury, Amy Hess, Jennifer Garvin, Brittany N. Hand
Primary Institution: The Ohio State University
Hypothesis
To quantify changes in autistic adults’ healthcare independence over time and understand factors associated with change in healthcare independence.
Conclusion
Some autistic young adults may demonstrate improvements in healthcare independence, while others may require additional support strategies.
Supporting Evidence
- Autistic young adults who self-reported showed significant increases in healthcare independence over 12 months.
- Proxy-report participants showed no significant changes in healthcare independence over time.
- Improvements in healthcare independence were associated with patient-provider interactions and community resources.
Takeaway
This study looked at how autistic young adults learn to manage their healthcare over time, finding that some get better at it while others still need help.
Methodology
Participants completed the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) at baseline, six months, and 12 months, with follow-up interviews conducted for qualitative data.
Potential Biases
Proxy reports may differ from self-reports, potentially leading to underestimations of healthcare independence.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the specific clinic and sample used, and there was some attrition across measurement periods.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 27 autistic young adults (self-report) and 21 supporters (proxy-report), with a majority being male and a range of racial backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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