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[Features of nursing of the autistic children]
Sigita Lesinskiene1, Dainius Pūras, Asta Kajokiene
1VU Socialines pediatrijos ir vaiku psichiatrijos klinika, Vytauto 15, 2004 Vilnius. sigitalesinskiene@vrc.vu.lt
Insights
Autistic children and their families face significant challenges in healthcare settings, requiring specialized nursing approaches. Home visits by nurses can offer crucial support, addressing the unmet needs of autistic children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Developmental Psychology
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Autistic children exhibit behavioral and communication challenges necessitating individualized medical care.
- Nursing care for autistic children remains under-investigated in many regions.
- Families of autistic children encounter substantial daily life difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the behavior, communication, and social adaptation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- To identify challenges faced by autistic children and their families within healthcare services.
- To develop practical recommendations for pediatric and mental health nurses.
Main Methods:
- Oral interviews and questionnaires administered to 37 mothers of autistic children and 74 mothers in a control group.
- Study focused on children aged 3-12 years.
- Analysis of behavioral and adaptation peculiarities in medical settings.
Main Results:
- Autistic children displayed severe behavioral and emotional difficulties during medical examinations.
- Significant adaptation challenges were observed in healthcare settings, particularly inpatient departments.
- Families reported difficulties in accessing and navigating medical services.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric nurses and medical staff face challenges in establishing rapport with autistic children and their families.
- There is a noted lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals regarding the needs of children with pervasive developmental disorders.
- Underestimated nursing home visit possibilities can provide constructive support to families.
Abstract:
Due to the behavioral and communication difficulties autistic children need individualized approaches providing them medical help. Aspects of nursing of autistic children were not investigated in our country. Thirty seven mothers of autistic children and 74 mothers of children without developmental disorders (control group) were interviewed orally and filled the questionnaire. The age of children was 3-12 years old. The aim of the research was to analyze peculiarities of behavior, communication and social adaptation of children with autism disorder together with troubles they face in medical services (outpatient and inpatient), and prepare practical recommendations to the pediatric and mental health nurses. It appeared that families with autistic children come across the great difficulties in various areas of the daily life. Autistic children tended to have severe behavioral and emotional difficulties while being examined by the medical staff. Adaptation difficulties in medical services were very prominent, especially at the in-patient departments (unpredictable and impulsive behavior, anxiety, decrease of appetite, sleep disturbances). Possibilities of home visit of the nurses are underestimated and could provide more useful and constructive help to the families. The data showed existing difficulties for the pediatric nurses and medical staff to establish good contact with the autistic children and their parents and lack of knowledge about the children with pervasive developmental disorders and their needs. Practical recommendations are provided.