Can Pediatricians Improve Early Recognition of Children at Risk for ASD?

Successful outcomes of a quality-improvement “learning collaborative” in Utah primary care practices indicate yes.

The average age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 4.5 years, suggesting low uptake of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation for standardized screening of at-risk children at 18- and 24-month health supervision visits. To boost adherence to this recommendation among pediatricians, researchers implemented a 3–6-month learning collaborative (LC) program in 26 primary care practices (20 pediatric; 6 family medicine) comprising 45 physicians in Utah.

The program consisted of a half-day or full-day workshop led by a primary care pediatrician who discussed ASD surveillance and screening with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) Revised with Follow-Up. Subsequent monthly conference calls covered to…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics