U of M Survey Finds Physicians Want More Education and Improved Infrastructure to Care for Children with Autism

Previous autism education is associated with improved care

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (March 11, 2009)— In a national survey conducted by the University of Minnesota, primary care physicians across the nation report a need for improvement in primary care for children with autism and a desire for more autism education. This includes access to balanced information specific to the use of complementary and alternative therapies in caring for children with autism, since it is estimated that between half and three-fourths of the families of autistic children elect its use. 

Primary care physicians often care for children with autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 150 children in the U.S. is affected by autism, and other research shows that between 52 and 95 percent of these children are being treated with complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. These high numbers support the clear need for primary care physicians to address CAM as a vital component of providing coordinated and comprehensive care for children with autism, and highlight their need to have access to adequate, balanced information examining the safety and efficacy of CAM therapies.

The physicians’ survey responses reinforce that professional education is crucial. “Although physicians expressed challenges in caring for this population, physicians who had more autism education reported providing higher quality care; education appears to make a great difference,” said Allison Golnik, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Pediatrics and first author of the study.

Physicians reported that care coordination and reimbursement present challenges when caring for children with autism. “Together with families, we must continue to explore unique models of medical care that facilitate coordinated care, appropriate reimbursement, education, and open communication with families,” Golnik said. “Great improvements have been made in autism screening and diagnosis. Now, primary care physicians must be supported to provide ongoing medical management for children with autism in their practices,” Golnik said.

Golnik and her colleagues’ research is being published in two journals. The first, “Medical Homes for Children With Autism: A Physician Survey,” appears in the March issue of Pediatrics. “Complementary Alternative Medicine for Children with Autism: A Physician Survey,” will be published online this week in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Dedicated to excellence, diversity and service, the University of Minnesota Medical School educates the next generation of physicians, advances patient care, and discovers breakthroughs in biomedical research that enhance health in Minnesota and beyond. Its commitment to transform medical education, Rural Physician Associate Program, and success in training Native American physicians are well-known. More than 1,500 Medical School physicians and scientists provide world-class care and carry out nearly $200 million in research, which informs the treatments and care that patients receive. For more information, go to www.med.umn.edu.

Contact:         
Laura Stroup, Academic Health Center, 612-624-560 or stro0481@umn.edu
Mark Mahon, Department of Pediatrics, 612-625-6185 or mmahon@umn.edu