Identifying Components of Autism Friendly Health Care: An Exploratory Study Using a Modified Delphi Method

Area of Science:

• Healthcare accessibility and patient experience research.
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthcare delivery.
• Development of best practice standards in medicine.

Background:

• Autistic individuals often report lower satisfaction with healthcare services.
• A lack of established "best practice" standards for caring for autistic patients exists.
• Healthcare settings frequently present barriers for autistic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key features of an Autism Friendly healthcare practice.
• To establish consensus on essential components for improving healthcare for autistic individuals.
• To inform the development of best practices in autism healthcare.

Main Methods:

• A modified 3-round Delphi method was employed to reach consensus.
• Statements regarding Autism Friendly healthcare components were evaluated by professionals and stakeholders.
• Surveys were used to score and rank the importance of various practice features.

Main Results:

• Environmental and operational modifications, such as extended appointment durations, were highly ranked.
• Comprehensive staff training to better support autistic patients emerged as a critical factor.
• Key themes included the need for sensory-friendly environments and communication adaptations.

Conclusions:

• The study identified crucial elements for creating Autism Friendly healthcare environments.
• Findings highlight the importance of staff training and environmental adjustments.
• Results provide a foundation for healthcare organizations to prioritize autism-friendly initiatives.