Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41786458›Full record

ArticleChild: care, health and development2026

Barriers and Innovations Towards Accessing an Autism Diagnosis in Rural Northern Ontario: A Qualitative Study.

Carly A Cermak, Jesiqua Rapley, Sherry Fournier, Melanie Penner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Child: care, health and development, 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. 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

4 authors.

Carly A CermakBloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7214-0462
Jesiqua RapleyBloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sherry FournierChild & Community Resources, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Melanie PennerBloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8376-9768

Funding

Empowered Kids Ontario
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly identification and diagnosis of autism are essential steps in supporting children and families. In rural communities, families can experience significant challenges in accessing an autism diagnosis.

methodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with four groups of participants: managers (n = 11), diagnosticians (n = 7), clinicians (n = 14) and parents/caregivers (n = 20) across six regions in Northern Ontario to learn of barriers and facilitators in accessing an autism diagnosis. Two independent coders coded each transcript and used inductive thematic analysis to identify themes across participants and regions.

resultsFive themes were generated from participants: (1) Gaps in autism knowledge delay early identification for children requiring an autism assessment; (2) complex systems create navigation barriers for families in knowing where to seek help; (3) families with limited access to resources face delays in the early identification process; (4) staffing challenges exacerbate barriers within the autism diagnostic process; and (5) collaboration among health disciplines while using a culturally responsive approach to care facilitates the autism assessment process. DISCUSSION: Hopes about the future of accessing an autism diagnosis were shared by families and professionals; although some challenges are fixed (e.g., vast geography), others are amenable to interventions such as building community knowledge and streamlining service navigation.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderHealth Services AccessibilityRural Health ServicesChildChild, PreschoolEarly DiagnosisFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleOntarioQualitative ResearchRural Populationchild developmentculturally sensitive careearly identificationinter‐professional collaboration

Identifiers

PMID41786458
PMCPMC12962844

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.