title: Tracking health care service use and the experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability: A longitudinal study of service rates, barriers and satisfaction.
abstract: Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encounter many difficulties finding and accessing health care services. Despite this, few studies have considered the health service use patterns of adults with ASD without intellectual disability (ID).
  
  
  
  The current study examines a diverse range of medical and mental health services and supports, as well as adults' personal experiences accessing and using these services, barriers to service use, and reported unmet service needs.
  
  
  
  Forty adults (ages 18-61 years) with ASD without ID completed surveys every two months about their health service use for a total of 12-18 months. Bivariate analyses were conducted to understand the individual demographic and clinical factors associated with rate of service use, satisfaction with services, and barriers to health care.
  
  
  
  Results indicated that, beyond a family doctor, the most commonly used services were dentistry, individual counseling, and psychiatry. Individuals who had medical problems experienced significantly more barriers to service use than those who did not, and those who had medical and mental health problems were less satisfied with services.
  
  
  
  Findings highlight the challenges adults with ASD without ID face accessing appropriate, quality services to meet their needs, particularly those with complex medical and mental health issues. Service providers must strive to provide adequate health care to this population who may become distressed if their needs are left unmet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto, M5S 1V6, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vogan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1H4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, M5S 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Johanna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1H4, Canada; Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, M3J 1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tint
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, M3J 1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1H4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, M5S 1A1, Canada. Electronic address: yona.lunsky@camh.ca.
authors.forename: Yona
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lunsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder; D003376:Counseling; D003729:Dental Care; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011570:Psychiatry; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Autism spectrum disorder; Health service use