PRIMARY CARE PSYCHOLOGISTS' KNOWLEDGE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Abstract

Introduction. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder with lifelong manifestations that include repetitive behaviors, limited interests, and problems in social interaction. Early detection is important for effective intervention. Parents of children with ASD often face difficulties in understanding, managing behavior, and reducing stress. Interventions in the field of cognitive behavioral and social skills are effective treatment methods that can serve as the basis for psychotherapy for children with ASD. Given these problems, providing psychological support to parents or guardians of children with ASD is crucial. Aim of this study is to study the knowledge of primary health care (PHC) psychologists of Almaty city about Autism spectrum disorder. Materials and methods. During the study, psychologists of the primary health care system of Almaty were interviewed to assess their knowledge about autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We have adapted an international questionnaire translated into Kazakh and Russian, consisting of 19 questions in four areas: social interaction, communication and language, obsessive and compulsive behavior, and general knowledge about RACE. 141 registered psychologists participated in the survey. Participation was voluntary and anonymous, with the assistance of the City Health Department. Results. More than half of the respondents - 50.4% - have more than 11 years of work experience, while young professionals make up about a third of the respondents - 29.6%. The majority (84.0%) believe that ASD refers to mental and behavioral disorders (code F), although only 77.0% are aware of the changes in ICD 11. Many psychologists (45.6%) are familiar with the methods of diagnosis of ASD and a modified autism screening test for children, but most often (60.0%) they rarely work with children with ASD. The coefficient of internal consistency of the measurement results was 0.849, which indicates the high reliability of the questionnaire. The average values of the scores in various areas of the questionnaire indicate the average level of knowledge and experience of the survey participants. Conclusion. The study highlighted the need for primary care psychologists to be trained in issues related to ASD so that they can provide effective support to parents and guardians of children with this disorder. The training should include psychological support methods aimed at helping parents accept the diagnosis and reduce anxiety and stress.