Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Limited knowledge about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents significant challenges for autistic individuals.
• Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, require comprehensive understanding of ASD for effective patient interaction and care.
• Existing research on healthcare professionals' awareness of ASD is scarce, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the general and specific knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among master's-level nursing students.
• To identify areas of strength and weakness in nursing students' understanding of ASD symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment.
• To provide insights for enhancing autism education within nursing curricula.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire assessing knowledge across four domains: general information, symptomatology, screening/diagnosis, and intervention/treatment.
• Descriptive analyses were performed on the 66 participating nurses' responses.
• Correlation and multivariable logistic regression analyses examined demographic associations with knowledge scores.

Main Results:

• Participants exhibited strong performance in general knowledge about autism, recognizing it as a developmental and congenital disorder.
• Knowledge regarding typical autism symptoms was high.
• Accuracy decreased significantly for questions on screening, diagnosis (including DSM-5 criteria and timing), and intervention/treatment.

Conclusions:

• While nursing students possess a foundational understanding of autism, specific knowledge gaps exist in diagnostic and treatment aspects.
• The findings highlight a need for enhanced training on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within nursing education programs.
• Further research should explore effective strategies for improving nurses' diagnostic and therapeutic competence in managing ASD.