title: Access to services, quality of care, and family impact for children with autism, other developmental disabilities, and other mental health conditions.
abstract: This cross-sectional study examined perceived access to services, quality of care, and family impact reported by caregivers of children aged 3-17 years with autism spectrum disorders, as compared to caregivers of children with other developmental disabilities and other mental health conditions. The 2009-2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs was utilized to examine the association between child's special needs condition and three outcomes (N = 18,136): access to services (difficulty using services, difficulty getting referrals, lack of source of care, and inadequate insurance coverage), quality of care (lack of care coordination, lack of shared decision making, and no routine screening), and family impact (financial, employment, and time-related burden). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to compare caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders to caregivers of children with developmental disabilities (cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delay, or intellectual disability), mental health conditions (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, behavioral/conduct problems, or depression), or both developmental disabilities and mental health conditions. Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders were significantly more likely to report difficulty using services, lack of source of care, inadequate insurance coverage, lack of shared decision making and care coordination, and adverse family impact as compared to caregivers of children with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or both.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, USA rivohra@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Rini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, USA.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, USA.
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sambamoorthi
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: St Peter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000628:therapy; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
keywords: Access to services; autism; autism spectrum disorder health care; burden of autism; developmental disabilities; family impact; mental health condition; quality of care