Direct Support Professionals' Perspectives on Using Technology to Help Support Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder:...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare technology and human services research.
• Applied psychology and user experience design.

Background:

• Documentation is a significant workload for direct support professionals (DSPs) serving adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• High workload contributes to job dissatisfaction and turnover among DSPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how technology can assist DSPs working with adults with ASD.
• To identify technology features most beneficial for future development efforts.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study involving online focus groups (n=15) and a national survey (n=153) of DSPs.
• Focus groups explored daily tasks, technology adoption factors, and desired technology interactions.
• Survey rated usefulness of technology features and data entry methods, with qualitative feedback on concerns.

Main Results:

• DSPs identified challenges with paper-based documentation and noted benefits/concerns regarding technology.
• Highly useful technology features included task views (by shift, client, DSP), logging tasks, and reminders.
• Most data entry methods were rated useful, but usefulness varied by work setting and age group; concerns included confidentiality, reliability, and efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Understanding DSP challenges is crucial for developing effective technology solutions to improve job satisfaction and effectiveness.
• Technology innovations should offer multiple features to accommodate diverse DSP needs, settings, and age groups.
• Future research should investigate adoption barriers and include input from various stakeholders.