Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35361202›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2022

Program evaluation of a pilot mobile developmental outreach clinic for autism spectrum disorder in Ontario.

Mahdis Kamali, Shivajan Sivapalan, Anna Kata, Nicole Kim, Neshanth Shanmugalingam, Eric Duku, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Stelios Georgiades

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Canadian developmental pediatrics workforce survey.Paediatrics & child health · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
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

8 authors.

Mahdis KamaliDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. kamalim@mcmaster.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1980-778X
Shivajan SivapalanSAAAC Autism Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Anna KataOfford Centre for Child Studies, Hamilton, Canada.
Nicole KimDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Neshanth ShanmugalingamSAAAC Autism Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Eric DukuOfford Centre for Child Studies, Hamilton, Canada.
Lonnie ZwaigenbaumAutism Research Centre, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Stelios GeorgiadesDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with increasing prevalence worldwide. Early identification of ASD through developmental screening is critical for early intervention and improved behavioural outcomes in children. However due to long wait times, delays in diagnosis continue to occur, particularly among minority populations who are faced with existing barriers in access to care. A novel Mobile Developmental Outreach Clinic (M-DOC) was implemented to deliver culturally sensitive screening and assessment practices to increase access to developmental health services, reduce wait times in diagnoses, and aid in equitable access to intervention programs among vulnerable populations in Ontario.

methodsThis study applied two evaluation frameworks (process and outcome evaluation) to determine whether the delivery model was implemented as intended, and if the program achieved its targeted goals. A mixed-methods design was undertaken to address the study objectives.

resultsBetween September 2018-February 2020, M-DOC reached 227 families with developmental health concerns for their child, while successfully targeting the intended population and achieving its goals. The mean age of the child-in-need at intake was 31.6 months (SD 9.9), and 70% of the sample were male. The program's success was attributed to the use of cultural liaisons to break cultural and linguistic barriers, the creation of multiple points of access into the diagnosis pathway, and delivery of educational workshops in local communities to raise awareness and knowledge of autism spectrum disorder.

conclusionsThe findings underscore the need for community-based intervention programs that focus on cultural barriers to accessing health services. The model of delivery of the M-DOC programs highlights the opportunity for other programs to adopt a similar mobile outreach clinic approach as a means to increase access to services, particularly in targeting hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderAmbulatory Care FacilitiesChild, PreschoolHumansMaleMobile Health UnitsOntarioProgram EvaluationAutism spectrum disorderCultural sensitivityDevelopmental disabilitiesEarly detectionHealth servicesProgram evaluation

Identifiers

PMID35361202
PMCPMC8973535

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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 OpenQuestion graph.