Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41371923›Full record

ArticleJournal of intellectual disability research : JIDR2026

The Power of ECHO Autism: Improving Confidence and Holistic Care for Autistic Adults.

Nancy Cheak-Zamora, Jessica Smith, Mya Howard, Beth Malow, Kristin Sohl, Micah Mazurek

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. The Power of ECHO Autism: Improving Confidence and Holistic Care for Autistic Adults.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR · 2026
    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

6 authors.

Nancy Cheak-ZamoraDepartment of Public Health, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3645-3469
Jessica SmithDepartment of Human Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Mya HowardDepartment of Human Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Beth MalowVanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Kristin SohlDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Micah MazurekDepartment of Human Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

Funding

Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Autism Research Program W81XWH-19-1-0580Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Autism Research Program W81XWH-19-1-0581
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutistic adults describe difficulties accessing high-quality primary care services. Primary care practitioners (PCPs) report a lack of confidence and knowledge in working with autistic adults. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model is a longitudinal clinician education program that utilises a 'hub and spoke' model, community-building strategies and peer case-based learning to improve the care of patients with medical complexity.

methodsThe present study utilised the ECHO model ('ECHO Autism Adult Healthcare') to train PCPs in how to best care for autistic adults. We used a qualitative approach to examine the PCPs' subjective experiences of participating in the training. We used a qualitative descriptive framework to explore the experiences of 22 PCPs who completed the ECHO Autism Adult Healthcare program. Semi-structured Zoom interviews examined the support and education needs of PCPs and the benefits and challenges of the program. Three researchers worked collaboratively to code transcripts, testing inter-rater reliability to establish reliability and coding consistency.

resultsFour themes were identified: (1) the benefits of hearing from a wide range of perspectives, (2) establishing and supporting an interactive and engaging climate, (3) building a sense of community and (4) the meaningfulness and usability of resources and information. Overall, participants appreciated the multidisciplinary hub team members' expertise, especially those with lived experiences. Several participants enjoyed the ECHO format, as it encourages active discussion and engagement. PCPs indicated that they felt connected with the hub team and participants. They remarked on the usefulness of provided resources and their ability to implement them into clinical care.

conclusionThese results can guide the development and implementation of future training programs. The ECHO model has the potential to become a best practice for delivering medical education. Broad implementation of the ECHO model shows significant benefits for PCPs and patients with medical complexity compared to more traditional forms of CME.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderCommunity Health ServicesPrimary Health CareAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative Researchhealthcare servicesmedical provider trainingprimary healthcarequalitative researchquality of caretransition to adulthood

Identifiers

PMID41371923
PMCPMC12872374

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

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.