The Role of a Nurse in Early Detection of Autism in Infants During Routine Health Check-Ups
Kandel, Chandra; Konovalova, Anastasia; Bhattarai, Kabita (2025)
2025
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060219083
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060219083
Tiivistelmä
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that increasingly becomes more commonly met and diagnosed by healthcare professionals. Early ASD diagnosis has proven to be crucial in terms of improving the outcomes for the affected children.
The nurses, involved with routine pediatric health check-ups, are bound to come across young patients affected by the condition. It is important to not underestimate the role of such a nurse in early ASD detection, as he/she might very likely have best opportunities for early ASD detection.
The purpose of this descriptive literature review was to explore the role of the nurse in early ASD detection during routine pediatric health check-ups as well as competencies and tools that a nurse could benefit from within the framework of this task. Fifteen (15) research articles, published in full text, in English language and within the time frame of the last 10 years were selected from three (3) academic online databases: CINAHL, PubMed and MedLine. The data was analyzed by applying the method of inductive content analysis.
The result of this study revealed the multitude of dimensions of the nurse’s role in early autism detection during regular pediatric health check-ups. These included active communication with parent/caregivers, attending to their concerns and providing relevant education. Other aspects were found to be the skills of ASD identification, leadership/decision-making ability, nursing advocacy and nursing accessibility, promoting the receival of official ASD diagnosis and linking the patients with necessary services/treatments as well as educating co-workers and creating the network of connections between institutions.
The results of this study have also indicated the tools and competencies that a nurse can benefit from in early ASD detection during regular pediatric health check-ups. Those were found to be the aspects of knowledge and professional training, confidence and flexible approach, cultural and professional competencies as well as the quality of stress resilience, the use of multiple sources and relevant surveillance and assessment tools in ASD identification.
According to the findings of this thesis, the nurse, involved in regular pediatric health check-ups, can play a meaningful role and have the potential to make a significant contribution into the identification of ASD. The nurse can benefit from a range of tools and competencies within the framework of this task.
The nurses, involved with routine pediatric health check-ups, are bound to come across young patients affected by the condition. It is important to not underestimate the role of such a nurse in early ASD detection, as he/she might very likely have best opportunities for early ASD detection.
The purpose of this descriptive literature review was to explore the role of the nurse in early ASD detection during routine pediatric health check-ups as well as competencies and tools that a nurse could benefit from within the framework of this task. Fifteen (15) research articles, published in full text, in English language and within the time frame of the last 10 years were selected from three (3) academic online databases: CINAHL, PubMed and MedLine. The data was analyzed by applying the method of inductive content analysis.
The result of this study revealed the multitude of dimensions of the nurse’s role in early autism detection during regular pediatric health check-ups. These included active communication with parent/caregivers, attending to their concerns and providing relevant education. Other aspects were found to be the skills of ASD identification, leadership/decision-making ability, nursing advocacy and nursing accessibility, promoting the receival of official ASD diagnosis and linking the patients with necessary services/treatments as well as educating co-workers and creating the network of connections between institutions.
The results of this study have also indicated the tools and competencies that a nurse can benefit from in early ASD detection during regular pediatric health check-ups. Those were found to be the aspects of knowledge and professional training, confidence and flexible approach, cultural and professional competencies as well as the quality of stress resilience, the use of multiple sources and relevant surveillance and assessment tools in ASD identification.
According to the findings of this thesis, the nurse, involved in regular pediatric health check-ups, can play a meaningful role and have the potential to make a significant contribution into the identification of ASD. The nurse can benefit from a range of tools and competencies within the framework of this task.