ArticleFrontiers in psychiatry2023
The experiences of autistic doctors: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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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.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 61 citations in OpenAlex.
- Enhancing emotional intelligence in medical education: a systematic review of interventions.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Neurodivergence Among Nurses in the Workforce: A Scoping Review.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Article
- Learning from the Experiences of Autistic Professionals Working in Health and Education.Autism in adulthood · 2026Article
- The Experiences of Autistic Healthcare Students in a Clinical Learning Environment: A Scoping Review.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2026Article
- Strategies to enable workplaces to support autistic clinicians in the dental workforce: learnings from the Buckland Review of Autism Employment.British dental journal · 2026Review
- Article
- Why We Need More Autistic Health Care Professionals and How to Support Them.Autism in adulthood · 2026Article
- The experiences of autistic medical students in relation to seeking and receiving online support: A phenomenological study.PloS one · 2026Article
- Silences in the System: A Scoping Review Examining How Medical Education Literature Shapes Neurodivergent Learners' Pathways.Advances in medical education and practice · 2026Review
- How Are Pedagogical Practices Within Medical Education Being Adapted for Autistic Students?Cureus · 2025Review
- Predictors of suicidal ideation in UK doctors: retrospective case-control study from NHS Practitioner Health.BJPsych open · 2025Article
- Barriers, facilitators and solutions to equitable career progression for disabled doctors: an integrative review.BMJ open · 2025Review
- Navigating neurodivergence: A scoping review to guide health professions educators.Medical education · 2025Article
- Article
- What about neurodiversity among nurses? A cross-sectional exploration of work environment and health among nurses with ADHD and/or autism.Work (Reading, Mass.) · 2025Article
- 'Part of the team as opposed to watching from the outside': Critical incident study of autistic veterinary surgeons' workdays.The Veterinary record · 2025Article
- Understanding the experiences of receiving and providing maternity care for autistic adults: A Multi-perspectival Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2025Article
- Article
- The power of metaphor in medical education: fostering shared understanding in complex conversations.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Neurodiversity: bridging the gap in UK's GP training for a more inclusive future.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Medicine may select for autistic characteristics. As awareness and diagnosis of autism are growing, more medical students and doctors may be discovering they are autistic. No studies have explored the experiences of autistic doctors. This study aimed to fill that gap. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A participatory approach was used to identify the need for the project and to modify a pre-existing survey for use exploring the experiences of autistic doctors. Results: We received 225 responses. 64% had a formal diagnosis of autism. The mean age of receiving a formal diagnosis was 36 (range 3-61). Most were currently working as doctors (82%). The most common specialties were general practice / family medicine (31%), psychiatry (18%), and anesthesia (11%). Almost half of those working had completed specialty training (46%) and 40% were current trainees. 29% had not disclosed being autistic to anyone at work. 46% had requested adjustments in the workplace but of these, only half had them implemented.Three quarters had considered suicide (77%), one quarter had attempted suicide (24%) and half had engaged in self-harm (49%). 80% reported having worked with another doctor they suspected was autistic, but only 22% reported having worked with another doctor they Conclusion: Autistic doctors reported many challenges in the workplace. This may have contributed to a culture of nondisclosure. Mental health was poor with high rates of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and prior suicide attempts. Despite inhospitable environments, most were persevering and working successfully. Viewing autism as a disorder was associated with prior suicide attempts and a preference for person-first language. A neurodiversity-affirmative approach to autism may lead to a more positive self-identity and improved mental health. Furthermore, providing adequate supports and improving awareness of autistic medical professionals may promote inclusion in the medical workforce.
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Registered trials
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.