Autism Access Link for Early Referral and Treatment

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R34 · $191,391 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Though significant research effort has focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening, less attention has been devoted to optimizing follow-up of children who are subsequently identified as at-risk. Despite increases in ASD screening rates, many children with ASD wait years between when autism is suspected in the primary care setting and when definitive diagnosis and treatment begin. Delayed and missed diagnoses are particularly problematic for low-income and racial/ethnic minority children in the US, who experience higher rates of these adverse outcomes. In this project, we propose to pilot test Autism Access Link to Early Referral and Treatment (Autism ALERT), a statewide monitoring and case management program to accelerate access to ASD diagnosis and treatment among children with suspected ASD the primary care setting. The system will reduce the time between identification of suspected ASD in the primary care setting and establishment of ASD diagnosis and treatment services, by reducing family barriers to care, decreasing PCP burdens, and simplifying referral processes. The program will be available to any Oregon child age 12-54 months, regardless of health system or payor type. Autism ALERT will become part of the Help Me Grow national network, which gives it potential for statewide and national spread. In this proposed research, we will pilot test Autism ALERT by comparing it to an existing ASD screening intervention in 6 Oregon primary care practices. Primary goals of this pilot project are to assess feasibility and acceptability of Autism ALERT for primary care providers and families, to test the mechanism of action of Autism ALERT, to pilot test efficacy in reducing time to autism diagnosis and treatment, and to test fidelity of protocol implementation. If successful, this project will be expanded into an implementation/effectiveness R01 in which the program will be tested throughout the state of Oregon. In the long term, this research will result in a sustainable, evidence-based statewide and ultimately national monitoring system children with suspected ASD.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10207407
Project number
5R34MH120184-03
Recipient
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator
Katharine Elizabeth Zuckerman
Activity code
R34
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$191,391
Award type
5
Project period
2019-08-01 → 2024-05-31