TY - JOUR
T1 - Parent-reported severity and health/educational services use among US children with autism
T2 - Results from a national survey
AU - Zuckerman, Katharine E.
AU - Friedman, Nora D.B.
AU - Chavez, Alison E.
AU - Shui, Amy M.
AU - Kuhlthau, Karen A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Objective: Little national data exist regarding service use patterns for children with autismspectrum disorder (ASD) of varying severity. This study aimed to assess the relationship between parent-reported severity and use of educational and health care services. Methods: Data from the 2011 Survey of Pathways to Diagnosis and Services were used to examine a nationally representative sample of 1420 US children aged 6 to 17 years with ASD, with or without developmental delay and intellectual disability. Weighted multivariable logistic regression assessed associations of parent-reported ASD severity and child sociodemographic characteristics with school-based therapy, non-school-based therapy, behavioral interventions, and specialty provider visits. Results: Higher parent-reported ASD severity was associated with increased likelihood of current use of school-based therapy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5 4.08, 95% confidence interval 51.85-8.98), non-school-based therapy (AOR 5 3.60 [1.95-6.66]), and behavioral interventions (AOR 5 2.30 [1.22-4.34]), as well as regular specialty provider visits (AOR 5 2.99 [1.38-6.46]). Although rates of service use were generally highest among children with severe ASD, non-school-based therapy and behavioral interventions were only used by about half of children with severe ASD, and about 1 in 4 children with mild ASD were using none of the therapies asked about. Conclusion: Parent-reported severity is associated with increased therapy and specialty provider service use among children with ASD. However, substantial variability exists in service use across levels of severity.
AB - Objective: Little national data exist regarding service use patterns for children with autismspectrum disorder (ASD) of varying severity. This study aimed to assess the relationship between parent-reported severity and use of educational and health care services. Methods: Data from the 2011 Survey of Pathways to Diagnosis and Services were used to examine a nationally representative sample of 1420 US children aged 6 to 17 years with ASD, with or without developmental delay and intellectual disability. Weighted multivariable logistic regression assessed associations of parent-reported ASD severity and child sociodemographic characteristics with school-based therapy, non-school-based therapy, behavioral interventions, and specialty provider visits. Results: Higher parent-reported ASD severity was associated with increased likelihood of current use of school-based therapy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5 4.08, 95% confidence interval 51.85-8.98), non-school-based therapy (AOR 5 3.60 [1.95-6.66]), and behavioral interventions (AOR 5 2.30 [1.22-4.34]), as well as regular specialty provider visits (AOR 5 2.99 [1.38-6.46]). Although rates of service use were generally highest among children with severe ASD, non-school-based therapy and behavioral interventions were only used by about half of children with severe ASD, and about 1 in 4 children with mild ASD were using none of the therapies asked about. Conclusion: Parent-reported severity is associated with increased therapy and specialty provider service use among children with ASD. However, substantial variability exists in service use across levels of severity.
KW - Autism spectrum disorder
KW - Severity
KW - Site of care
KW - Specialty provider visit
KW - Therapy service
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U2 - 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000437
DO - 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000437
M3 - Article
C2 - 28410256
AN - SCOPUS:85017456243
SN - 0196-206X
VL - 38
SP - 260
EP - 268
JO - Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
IS - 4
ER -