Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study
<b>Background:</b> One of the biggest limitations faced by autistic people is the lack of knowledge of their condition. Our study aims to evaluate and discuss the knowledge of autism among nurses, which is a social and health category often in close contact with autistic people. <b>...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Clinics and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/212 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846105187645652992 |
|---|---|
| author | Rosaria Ferrara Giuseppe Campagna Pasquale Ricci Felice Damato Lidia Ricci Leonardo Iovino Flavio Marti Roberto Latina Roberta Simeoli |
| author_facet | Rosaria Ferrara Giuseppe Campagna Pasquale Ricci Felice Damato Lidia Ricci Leonardo Iovino Flavio Marti Roberto Latina Roberta Simeoli |
| author_sort | Rosaria Ferrara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> One of the biggest limitations faced by autistic people is the lack of knowledge of their condition. Our study aims to evaluate and discuss the knowledge of autism among nurses, which is a social and health category often in close contact with autistic people. <b>Objective:</b> Given the limited exploration of awareness levels about autism among healthcare professionals, this study aims to investigate general and specific knowledge of autism within a group of nursing students enrolled in a master’s degree. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 66 nurses completed the questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the results for the four subcomponents of the questionnaire: (i) general knowledge, (ii) symptomatology, (iii) screening and diagnosis, and (iv) intervention and treatment. A correlation analysis was performed between the participants’ demographic variables and questionnaire scores. Additionally, a multivariable logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association between the participants’ basic demographic characteristics and questionnaire scores. <b>Results:</b> Results showed a good percentage of correct answers in the “general knowledge” category. Furthermore, a good level of knowledge regarding the fact that ASD is a developmental disorder and a congenital disease also emerged. <b>Conclusions:</b> Regarding the knowledge of typical autism symptoms, participants answered most of the questions correctly. Correct answers decreased for questions related to screening and diagnosis. In particular, participants had limited knowledge of the DSM-5 and the timing of ASD diagnosis. Similar levels of knowledge were observed for the fourth category, “intervention and treatment”. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1bb09b62862548f2adc33a82d2d6c7db |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2039-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinics and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-1bb09b62862548f2adc33a82d2d6c7db2024-12-27T14:18:37ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72832024-12-011462693270410.3390/clinpract14060212Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational StudyRosaria Ferrara0Giuseppe Campagna1Pasquale Ricci2Felice Damato3Lidia Ricci4Leonardo Iovino5Flavio Marti6Roberto Latina7Roberta Simeoli8Department of Anatomy Histology, Legal Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Margherita 336, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Medical-Surgical Sciences and of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Anatomy Histology, Legal Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Margherita 336, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Anatomy Histology, Legal Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Margherita 336, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Anatomy Histology, Legal Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Margherita 336, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Economic and Legal Studies (DISEG), “Parthenope” University of Naples, 80133 Naples, ItalySchool of Nursing and Midwifery—S. Camillo, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Promotion Science, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine, and Medical Specialities (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy<b>Background:</b> One of the biggest limitations faced by autistic people is the lack of knowledge of their condition. Our study aims to evaluate and discuss the knowledge of autism among nurses, which is a social and health category often in close contact with autistic people. <b>Objective:</b> Given the limited exploration of awareness levels about autism among healthcare professionals, this study aims to investigate general and specific knowledge of autism within a group of nursing students enrolled in a master’s degree. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 66 nurses completed the questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the results for the four subcomponents of the questionnaire: (i) general knowledge, (ii) symptomatology, (iii) screening and diagnosis, and (iv) intervention and treatment. A correlation analysis was performed between the participants’ demographic variables and questionnaire scores. Additionally, a multivariable logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association between the participants’ basic demographic characteristics and questionnaire scores. <b>Results:</b> Results showed a good percentage of correct answers in the “general knowledge” category. Furthermore, a good level of knowledge regarding the fact that ASD is a developmental disorder and a congenital disease also emerged. <b>Conclusions:</b> Regarding the knowledge of typical autism symptoms, participants answered most of the questions correctly. Correct answers decreased for questions related to screening and diagnosis. In particular, participants had limited knowledge of the DSM-5 and the timing of ASD diagnosis. Similar levels of knowledge were observed for the fourth category, “intervention and treatment”.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/212autismdevelopmental psychologyclinic psychologysocial medicineautism awarenessnursing |
| spellingShingle | Rosaria Ferrara Giuseppe Campagna Pasquale Ricci Felice Damato Lidia Ricci Leonardo Iovino Flavio Marti Roberto Latina Roberta Simeoli Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study Clinics and Practice autism developmental psychology clinic psychology social medicine autism awareness nursing |
| title | Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study |
| title_full | Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study |
| title_short | Developmental Psychology and Healthcare Professions: Autism Knowledge Among Nurses: An Observational Study |
| title_sort | developmental psychology and healthcare professions autism knowledge among nurses an observational study |
| topic | autism developmental psychology clinic psychology social medicine autism awareness nursing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/14/6/212 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rosariaferrara developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT giuseppecampagna developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT pasqualericci developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT felicedamato developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT lidiaricci developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT leonardoiovino developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT flaviomarti developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT robertolatina developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy AT robertasimeoli developmentalpsychologyandhealthcareprofessionsautismknowledgeamongnursesanobservationalstudy |