Evaluating the Feasibility and Utility of an Educational Webinar Series on Autism for Pediatric Primary Care Providers: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Parents of children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently raise concerns about their child’s behavior and development with their pediatric primary care providers (PPCPs). However, few PPCPs make timely referrals to ASD specialists following positive ASD-screening results, and even fewer evaluate for ASD themselves-actions that contribute to the ASD-detection gap (i.e., the time span between first concerns and eventual diagnosis). Some literature suggests that PPCPs’ lack of knowledge about and/or confidence in managing ASD/suspected ASD contributes to referral and diagnostic delays.