Sarabeth Broder-Fingert1, Amy Shui2, Christine Ferrone3, Dorothea Iannuzzi3, Erika R Cheng4, Ann Giauque3, Susan Connors3, Christopher J McDougle3, Karen Donelan5, Ann Neumeyer3, Karen Kuhlthau4. 1. Boston Medical Center, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of General Academic Pediatrics, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Lurie Center for Autism, MassGeneral Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Lexington, Massachusetts; and sarabeth.broder-fingert@bmc.org. 2. Biostatistics Center, and. 3. Lurie Center for Autism, MassGeneral Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Lexington, Massachusetts; and. 4. Division of General Academic Pediatrics, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; 5. Mongan Institute for Health Policy, MassGeneral Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hospital admissions can be difficult for patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We created an autism-specific care plan (ACP) to help improve the hospital experience for patients with ASD, and we tested feasibility and acceptability and compared the experience of care for children with and without an ACP. METHODS: We performed a nonrandomized, retrospective chart review of all patients with ASD and a hospital admission from January 2013 to December 2013 (n = 142) to determine feasibility of the intervention. We then mailed surveys to all 142 families to measure experience with the ACP and to compare experience of care in those who did and did not have an ACP. Using multivariable linear regression we assessed the association of experience of care with ACP use while adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: The ACP was well tolerated by parents and used frequently by staff. Compared with parents who did not use the ACP, parents who used the ACP reported a better experience relating to their general hospital experience (B = 1.48, P < .001) and staff attention to their child's ASD-specific needs (B = 3.07, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: According to this pilot study, care plans are feasible and hold promise to improve the experience of care for children with ASD and their families in the hospital setting.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hospital admissions can be difficult for patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We created an autism-specific care plan (ACP) to help improve the hospital experience for patients with ASD, and we tested feasibility and acceptability and compared the experience of care for children with and without an ACP. METHODS: We performed a nonrandomized, retrospective chart review of all patients with ASD and a hospital admission from January 2013 to December 2013 (n = 142) to determine feasibility of the intervention. We then mailed surveys to all 142 families to measure experience with the ACP and to compare experience of care in those who did and did not have an ACP. Using multivariable linear regression we assessed the association of experience of care with ACP use while adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: The ACP was well tolerated by parents and used frequently by staff. Compared with parents who did not use the ACP, parents who used the ACP reported a better experience relating to their general hospital experience (B = 1.48, P < .001) and staff attention to their child's ASD-specific needs (B = 3.07, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: According to this pilot study, care plans are feasible and hold promise to improve the experience of care for children with ASD and their families in the hospital setting.
Authors: Jeanne Van Cleave; Chloe Holifield; Ann M Neumeyer; James M Perrin; Erin Powers; Linda Van; Karen A Kuhlthau Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2018-12