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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedHickey EJ, Feinberg E, Kuhn J
Family impact during the time between autism screening and definitive diagnosis.
The purpose of this study was to explore parental perceptions of the impact their child’s behavior had on their family between the time risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was identified and before formal medical diagnosis, and then compare family impact among those whose child met diagnostic criteria for ASD and those who did not. The study found that the parents of children who received a non-ASD diagnosis reported a higher baseline level of family impact. Perception of difficult child behavior was a stronger predictor of family impact than later diagnostic group, and child functioning did not predict family impact. The researchers concluded that in this specific population, perceived difficult child behavior is a stronger predictor of family impact than later diagnostic category.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Hickey EJ, Feinberg E, Kuhn J .
Family impact during the time between autism screening and definitive diagnosis.
J Autism Dev Disord 2022 Nov;52(11):4908-20. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05354-5..
Keywords: Autism, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Kuhn J, Levinson Udhnani, MD
What happens after a positive primary care autism screen among historically underserved families? Predictors of evaluation and autism diagnosis.
This study examined predictors of receiving a recommended diagnostic evaluation after a recommended primary care-administered autism screen, and of those who screen positive, who is most likely to be diagnosed with autism. Participants were 309 predominantly low-income, racial/ethnic minority parents and their child aged 15-27 months who screened positive with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F). Significant predictors of diagnostic evaluation included older parental age, being non-Hispanic and the child having private insurance, lower child communication functioning, or receiving Early Intervention services. Significant predictors of an autism diagnosis included being male, having lower child communication functioning, screening directly in the parent’s preferred language, White/non-Hispanic parent, and no parent history of mood disorder.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Kuhn J, Levinson Udhnani, MD .
What happens after a positive primary care autism screen among historically underserved families? Predictors of evaluation and autism diagnosis.
J Dev Behav Pediatr 2021 Sep;42(7):515-23. doi: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000928..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Autism, Screening, Vulnerable Populations, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Cook A, Quinn ED, Rowland C
Exploring expressive communication skills in a cross-sectional sample of individuals with a dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome.
The authors hypothesized that individuals with a comorbid diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder would have significantly lower Communication Matrix scores and specifically social communication scores than individuals with DS alone. They found that, in a sample of 4,782 individuals with DS, scores for individuals with a comorbid diagnosis were on average 18.01 points and 7.26 points lower for total score and social score, respectively, as compared to individuals with DS alone.
AHRQ-funded; K12 HS026370; 1013200.
Citation: Cook A, Quinn ED, Rowland C .
Exploring expressive communication skills in a cross-sectional sample of individuals with a dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome.
Am J Intellect Dev Disabil 2021 Mar 1;126(2):97-113. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-126.2.97..
Keywords: Autism, Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Fogler J, Kuhn J, Prock L
Diagnostic uncertainty in a complex young man: autism versus psychosis.
This paper provides a case study of boy, diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who was born in Vietnam to a mother with mental illness.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Fogler J, Kuhn J, Prock L .
Diagnostic uncertainty in a complex young man: autism versus psychosis.
J Dev Behav Pediatr 2019 Jan;40(1):72-74. doi: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000635..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Autism, Behavioral Health, Case Study
Martinez M, Thomas KC, Williams CS
Family experiences with the diagnosis of autism spectrum Disorder: system barriers and facilitators of efficient diagnosis.
This paper examines family experiences with the efficiency of Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. Screening, travel distance, and delay in diagnosis were associated with shifting diagnoses and being told child did not have ASD. Physician and parent training in communication and addressing mental health professional shortages and maldistribution may improve the diagnosis experiences of families of children with ASD.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Martinez M, Thomas KC, Williams CS .
Family experiences with the diagnosis of autism spectrum Disorder: system barriers and facilitators of efficient diagnosis.
J Autism Dev Disord 2018 Jul;48(7):2368-78. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3493-1..
Keywords: Autism, Children/Adolescents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient Experience