ABSTRACT Timely diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is paramount to ensuring access to evidence-based intervention for individuals with ASD and their families, but the receipt of ASD diagnoses continues to be delayed. Nationwide, demand for appropriately trained healthcare providers has outpaced availability with many families unable to access timely care. This is particularly evident in underserved (e.g., rural, lower socioeconomic) populations. The current project used a quasi-experimental design to test an innovative model (i.e., ECHO Autism: Diagnostics) designed to educate, train, and mentor community-based psychologists (CBPs) serving families in Missouri. ECHO Autism: Diagnostics was designed to increase the number of CBPs who are knowledgeable in ASD and equipped to work with families seeking ASD-specific evaluations. Nine CBPs representing unique rural geographies from across Missouri completed this pilot project. Results indicated significant improvement in participants’ self-efficacy related to working with individuals with ASD. Participants also reported significant improvement in self-efficacy related to recognizing red flags of ASD and administering the ADOS-2. CBPs who participated in the project demonstrated increased ASD knowledge and perceived fewer barriers to caring for individuals with ASD in their practice. Results from this project suggest that the ECHO Autism: Diagnostics model may be a feasible and potentially scalable means of reducing disparate access to ASD-diagnostic evaluations.

中文翻译：

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装备基于社区的心理学家，使用ECHO自闭症模型进行最佳ASD诊断实践

摘要自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的及时诊断对于确保ASD及其家属获得基于证据的干预至关重要，但是ASD诊断的接受仍在延迟。在全国范围内，对经过适当培训的医疗保健提供者的需求已经超出了可用性，许多家庭无法及时获得护理。这在服务不足的（例如农村，社会经济地位较低的）人群中尤其明显。当前的项目使用准实验设计来测试一种创新模型（即ECHO自闭症：诊断），该模型旨在教育，培训和指导在密苏里州为家庭服务的社区心理学家（CBP）。回声自闭症：诊断程序旨在增加对ASD熟悉并能够与寻求ASD特定评估的家庭合作的CBP数量。代表密苏里州各地独特农村地区的9个CBP完成了该试点项目。结果表明，与ASD个体合作时，参与者的自我效能得到了显着改善。参加者还报告了与识别ASD的危险信号和使用ADOS-2有关的自我效能的显着改善。参与该项目的CBP证明了其对ASD的了解有所增加，并且在实践中意识到照顾ASD个体的障碍更少。该项目的结果表明，“ ECHO自闭症：诊断”模型可能是减少对ASD诊断评估的不同途径的可行且可能具有可扩展性的手段。结果表明，与ASD个体合作时，参与者的自我效能得到了显着改善。参与者还报告了与识别ASD的危险信号和使用ADOS-2有关的自我效能的显着改善。参与该项目的CBP证明了其对ASD的了解有所增加，并且在实践中意识到照顾ASD个体的障碍更少。该项目的结果表明，“ ECHO自闭症：诊断”模型可能是减少对ASD诊断评估的不同途径的可行且可能具有可扩展性的手段。结果表明，与ASD个体合作时，参与者的自我效能得到了显着改善。参与者还报告了与识别ASD的危险信号和使用ADOS-2有关的自我效能的显着改善。参与该项目的CBP证明了其对ASD的了解有所增加，并且在实践中意识到照顾ASD个体的障碍更少。该项目的结果表明，“ ECHO自闭症：诊断”模型可能是减少对ASD诊断评估的不同途径的可行且可能具有可扩展性的手段。参与该项目的CBP证明了其对ASD的了解有所增加，并且在实践中意识到照顾ASD个体的障碍更少。该项目的结果表明，“ ECHO自闭症：诊断”模型可能是减少对ASD诊断评估的不同访问的可行且可能具有可扩展性的手段。参与该项目的CBP证明了其对ASD的了解有所增加，并且在实践中意识到照顾ASD个体的障碍更少。该项目的结果表明，“ ECHO自闭症：诊断”模型可能是减少对ASD诊断评估的不同途径的可行且可能具有可扩展性的手段。