Translating research into practice in low-resource settings: An Australian case study of early autism service provision in a regional town

ABSTRACT

Background We investigated the context for translating evidence-based early intervention for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) into real world settings through a case study of a regional town characterised as disadvantaged.

Methods Data were from interview surveys of five managers reporting on 15 services, and surveys from 19 practitioners and 15 mothers of young children with ASD.

Results The 15 services were multidisciplinary, offering diagnostic assessments (n = 2) and interventions delivered in the home and centres. Children were diagnosed at a mean age of 3 years; access to intervention was delayed and mostly limited to one session every two weeks. Some families travelled substantial distances to services, driving on average 50 minutes each way. Practitioners described intervention strategies in broad terms, rather than name interventions.

Conclusions Services available to young children with ASD in this town were far removed from good practice in terms of early diagnosis, and intervention frequency and intensity.

KEYWORDS:

• autism
• early intervention
• low resource settings
• rural service delivery
• evidence-based practice

Acknowledgements

The study was presented as at the International Meeting of Autism Researchers, Baltimore, May, 2016 and the Australian Society for Autism Researchers, Perth, 2016. Thanks are extended to participating organisations, practitioners and families.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Teresa Iacono http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7988-9951

David Trembath http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3972-540X

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the study was from a La Trobe University Building Healthy Communities. No restrictions on free access to or publication of the data have been imposed.