Abstract
Autistic individuals experience barriers when accessing primary healthcare which results in significantly higher unmet needs. They have an increased prevalence of coexisting medical and mental health conditions, and mortality rates are 2.6 times that of the general population.
Objective: This integrative literature review, sought to assimilate evidence informed facilitators for autistic individuals, to receive healthcare in primary settings. It details the opinions of those with autism, focusing also on indigenous peoples, older adults, and the female phenotype.
Methods: A literature search of the Cochrane, CINAHL, EMCare, APA Psychinfo, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases (1992 to 2023), identified 12 peer reviewed, often co-designed, primary studies of qualitative and mixed methodology; relating to children, adolescents, and adults with autism. These studies include 1,414 autistic representations. Themes and subthemes were identified through thematic mapping and presented using narrative analysis.
Results: Online booking facilities assists 62% of autistic adults (AAs) who find using the telephone a barrier. Communicating in the preferred mode for the autistic individual, and giving adequate processing time, enables the healthcare professional (HCP) to connect with the person and may reduce behaviours that challenge. Facilitators which address sensory sensitivity compromise in both the waiting room and the consultation, improve access to healthcare. Executive dysfunction reduces when written instructions and concrete advice on how to improve health is given. Individual accommodations are important and may be enhanced using the AASPIRE healthcare toolkit.
Conclusion: Facilitators for autistic individuals can be easily accomplished with minimal expense for HCPs. Autistic children and adults require similar accommodations regarding the environment, communication, and clinical examination.