Evidence mapPaperPMID 41609986Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Advancing Healthcare Provision to Autistic Clients: A Systematic Review of Autism Focused Digitally Delivered Professional Education Programs (DDPE) for the Health Workforce.

Taylor Scott, Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs, Ann-Marie Kennedy, Emma Woodford, Jolene Hunter, Laurie McLay

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Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Taylor ScottFaculty of Health, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. taylor.scott@pg.canterbury.ac.nz.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-5679-2261
Sarah Whitcombe-DobbsFaculty of Health, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Ann-Marie KennedyUC Business School, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Emma WoodfordChild Well-being Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Jolene HunterChild Well-being Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Laurie McLayChild Well-being Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAutistic individuals experience substantial inequities in healthcare access and outcomes, partly due to limited autism knowledge and training among healthcare professionals (HCPs). This systematic review aims to identify and critically analyze empirical evaluations of autism focused digitally delivered professional education (DDPE) programs for HCPs.

methodsA literature search yielded 1,068 unique articles, of which 80 were assessed for eligibility via full text review. Twenty-three studies (including ten identified through a forward-citation search of eligible articles) met inclusion criteria.

resultsCurricula and methods of program delivery varied considerably across studies. Despite this heterogeneity, DDPE programs generally enhanced autism knowledge and self-efficacy among HCPs and were perceived as acceptable and feasible. Findings concerning practice behavior change were mixed but suggested that DDPE may increase autism screening rates and enhance HCPs’ abilities toreliably administer autism diagnostic evaluations.

conclusionWhilst DDPE may represent an effective and socially valid means of delivering autism focused training to the health workforce, more research is needed to determine which program characteristics (e.g., delivery modality, dose, learning features) influence these outcomes. This would be strengthened via employing experimental designs and validated outcome measures. Additionally, there is a need to develop and evaluate DDPE programs which relate to promoting health among Autistic adolescents and adults (including ethnic minorities) and aim to upskill HCPs working in specialist (i.e., psychiatry, acute care) settings. Partnering with Autistic individuals to co-produce DDPE curricula may enhance program relevance, and thereby effectiveness in promoting equitable healthcare access and outcomes among this underserved group.

Indexed as

AutismContinuing medical educationHealth promotionOnline learning

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Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.