Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Developing an e-learning curriculum to educate healthcare staff in the acute hospital setting about autism
Geraldine Kyle1, Aine Connolly2
1Nurse Tutor, Centre for Learning and Development, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Healthcare staff require targeted education to better support autistic individuals in acute hospital settings. An e-learning program was developed to improve healthcare experiences and diagnoses for autistic patients.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Education
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Autistic individuals face significant challenges in acute hospital settings due to communication barriers and environmental difficulties.
- Poor health outcomes for autistic people are linked to comorbidities and challenges navigating healthcare.
- There is a clear need for specialized training for healthcare professionals interacting with autistic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an e-learning program for healthcare staff in acute care settings.
- To address the need for improved understanding and support for autistic individuals within hospitals.
- To enhance the accessibility and productivity of healthcare consultations for autistic patients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Kern et al's six-step approach for curriculum development.
- Conducted a literature review to identify challenges faced by autistic individuals in healthcare.
- Developed and evaluated an e-learning program for healthcare staff.
Main Results:
- Healthcare staff expressed a strong interest in learning more about autism.
- Participants sought to improve patient consultations and overall healthcare experiences for autistic individuals.
- The e-learning program is expected to aid in identifying and meeting the needs of undiagnosed autistic adults.
Conclusions:
- Targeted education is crucial for healthcare staff to effectively support autistic patients in acute settings.
- The developed e-learning program aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and outcomes for autistic individuals.
- Adopting respectful language, such as 'autistic person,' is important in healthcare interactions.
Abstract:
When attending acute hospital settings, autistic children and adults rely on health professionals and ancillary staff to interact with them appropriately to facilitate accurate diagnoses and management of health concerns. Health outcomes for autistic people are adversely affected by comorbidities as well as difficulties in accessing and navigating acute healthcare environments. These factors demonstrate a need to develop targeted education for healthcare staff working in the acute hospital setting. This article discusses the background to the project, including the results of a literature review that highlighted some of the difficulties this patient group experiences in accessing health care. It discusses the development and evaluation of an e-learning education programme for healthcare staff working in an acute hospital setting using Kern et al's (1998) six-step approach to curriculum development. Staff reported a desire to learn more about autism and how to make patient consultations and experiences more accessible and productive. It was acknowledged that there are many undiagnosed autistic adults navigating the acute health system and it is anticipated that the e-learning programme will assist staff in identifying and meeting their needs. During research with an autism advocacy group, there was a clear recommendation for the use of the term 'autistic person' rather than 'person with autism', which is reflected in the resulting education programme and this article.
More Related Videos
09:52Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
08:25Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
01:24Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:21Health Literacy