Adequacy of Medical Home Care and Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Educational Services Use Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To examine whether adequacy of medical home care was significantly associated with the likelihood of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) currently using educational services To identify sociodemographic factors associated with current use of educational services among children with ASD. <h3>Design</h3> Retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2016/2017 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). Binary logistic regression was conducted with current educational services utilization as the outcome. <h3>Setting</h3> The 2016/2017 NSCH was administered to households in the U.S. and District of Columbia. <h3>Participants</h3> Participants were 1,248 children ages 1-17 years old with ASD currently receiving educational services under individualized family service or education plans. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not Applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Educational services utilization was defined as current receipt of an individualized family or educational service plan. <h3>Results</h3> Inadequate medical home care was significantly associated with higher likelihood of current educational services use (aOR = 1.95, 95% CI [1.10, 3.44], p = .028) in children with ASD. Sociodemographic factors significantly associated with lower odds of using educational services included older children (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.84, 0.99], p = .028), lower overall maternal health status (aOR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.29, 0.94], p = .031), and children who did not qualify as having special health care needs (aOR =0.38, 95% CI [0.17-0.85], p = .018). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Results suggest inadequate medical home care is associated with higher odds of educational services utilization in children with ASD. Use of educational services varies by children's age, maternal health status, and presence of other special health care needs. The inverse relationship between adequacy of medical home care and educational services utilization among children living with ASD suggests further research to explore the complex relationship between medical home care and educational services use. Future research is needed to examine differences more closely in medical home care, defined within the NSCH survey structure, in relationship to the odds of educational services utilization. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The presenter declares no conflict of interest.