A trial of the AASPIRE healthcare toolkit with Australian adults on the autism spectrum
Lisa R. J. Kang A B , Tim Barlott
A C , Merrill Turpin A and Anna Urbanowicz B D E *
A School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4067, Australia.
B Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Qld 4068, Australia.
C Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2R3, Canada.
D Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, MRI-UQ, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia.
E Social and Global Studies Centre, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(4) 350-356 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY21134
Submitted: 18 June 2021 Accepted: 18 February 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY).
Abstract
Background: Autistic adults experience barriers to accessing health care, such as service provider communication not meeting their needs, healthcare facilities causing sensory discomfort and feeling fear or anxiety regarding their healthcare visit. The Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) developed and trialled an online healthcare toolkit to reduce such barriers and improve healthcare interactions between autistic adults and their primary care providers in the United States. This preliminary study aimed to explore experiences of autistic adults using the AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit in Australia.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six autistic adults about their experiences and perceptions of utilising the toolkit in an Australian healthcare setting.
Results: Participants identified that the toolkit facilitated their interactions with health professionals by providing structure to appointments, supplementing new knowledge and increasing individual confidence. They also offered suggestions to tailor the toolkit for use in Australia.
Conclusions: Future research should seek to explore the experiences of autistic adults using a version of the toolkit adapted for Australian use, as well as exploring the views of health professionals utilising it.
Keywords: adult, autism spectrum disorder, autistic, health resource, health services, qualitative content analysis, qualitative description, qualitative research.
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