Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Chronic health and lifestyle problems for people diagnosed with autism in a student-led clinic

Chronic health and lifestyle problems for people diagnosed with autism in a student-led clinic PurposePeople with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at greater risk of developing chronic health and risky lifestyle problems. This is exaggerated further for people living in rural settings and from cultural backgrounds traditionally underserved by healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to describe an evaluation of health and behavioural lifestyle outcomes of people diagnosed with ASD in a student-led clinic in rural/regional Australia.Design/methodology/approachRoutine clinical outcomes and lifestyle measures were routinely collected at a primary acre student-led Clinic in rural/regional Australia. Participants were all attending the clinic who provided consent for their routine date to be reported. Participants ranged in age from new born to 100 years and were representative of the local community.FindingsThe results indicate there is an increased risk for people with ASD developing chronic conditions compared to those without a diagnosis. This also resulted in higher body mass index and blood sugar levels linked to diabetes and hypertension. Mental health problems were common in people diagnosed with ASD especially anxiety disorders. Smoking was problematic for people with ASD but mainly in non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Alcohol use was not an increase risk in ASD.Originality/valueLittle is reported on the health and lifestyle experiences of people with ASD in rural/regional settings, especially from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This paper gives an initial insight to the presentation of chronic conditions and harmful lifestyle choices. Possible insights into adapting or modifying care for people with ASD in rural/regional Australia are given. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Advances in Autism Emerald Publishing

Chronic health and lifestyle problems for people diagnosed with autism in a student-led clinic

Tolchard, Barry; Stuhlmiller, Cynthia
Advances in Autism , Volume 4 (2): 7 – Apr 3, 2018
Download PDF
7 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/chronic-health-and-lifestyle-problems-for-people-diagnosed-with-autism-TbxqUe4tY4
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
2056-3868
DOI
10.1108/AIA-01-2018-0002
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

PurposePeople with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at greater risk of developing chronic health and risky lifestyle problems. This is exaggerated further for people living in rural settings and from cultural backgrounds traditionally underserved by healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to describe an evaluation of health and behavioural lifestyle outcomes of people diagnosed with ASD in a student-led clinic in rural/regional Australia.Design/methodology/approachRoutine clinical outcomes and lifestyle measures were routinely collected at a primary acre student-led Clinic in rural/regional Australia. Participants were all attending the clinic who provided consent for their routine date to be reported. Participants ranged in age from new born to 100 years and were representative of the local community.FindingsThe results indicate there is an increased risk for people with ASD developing chronic conditions compared to those without a diagnosis. This also resulted in higher body mass index and blood sugar levels linked to diabetes and hypertension. Mental health problems were common in people diagnosed with ASD especially anxiety disorders. Smoking was problematic for people with ASD but mainly in non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Alcohol use was not an increase risk in ASD.Originality/valueLittle is reported on the health and lifestyle experiences of people with ASD in rural/regional settings, especially from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This paper gives an initial insight to the presentation of chronic conditions and harmful lifestyle choices. Possible insights into adapting or modifying care for people with ASD in rural/regional Australia are given.

Journal

Advances in Autism – Emerald Publishing

Published: Apr 3, 2018

References

  • Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia
    Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Prevalence of autism
    Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • GP mental health treatment plan
    Australian Government Department of Health and Aging
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder. AMA Position Statement
    Australian Medical Association
  • Prevalence and treatment of diabetes mellitus and hypertension among older adults with intellectual disability in comparison with the general population
  • Risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder: a nationwide longitudinal study
  • The health status of adults on the autism spectrum
  • Obesity in children with autism spectrum disorders
  • Understanding autism and understanding my child with autism: an evaluation of a group parent education program in rural Australia
  • Effects of a physical exercise program (PEP-Aut) on children’s with autism stereotyped behaviour metabolic and physical activity profiles, physical fitness and health related quality of life: study protocol
  • Brief report: physical activity, body mass index and arterial stiffness in children with autism spectrum disorder: preliminary findings
  • Aggressive behavior problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence and correlates in a large clinical sample
  • Physical activity, dietary habits and overall health in overweight and obese children and youth with intellectual disability or autism
  • Physical activity, sedentary behavior and their correlates in children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review
  • Determinants of mental health and well-being within rural and remote communities
  • Comparison of obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and without
  • Development and trialling of a tool to support a systems approach to improve social determinants of health in rural and remote Australian communities: the healthy community assessment tool
  • Smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use among adolescents with psychiatric disorders compared with a population based sample
  • Social determinants and the health of Indigenous Australians
  • A comparative study of rurality and urbanicity on access to and satisfaction with services for children with autism spectrum disorders
  • A snapshot of poverty in rural and regional Australia
    National Rural Health Alliance
  • Identifying and addressing anxiety in children with Autism spectrum disorder
  • Health promotion for people with intellectual disabilities – a concept analysis
  • The mental health of individuals referred for assessment of autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: a clinic report
  • Service and infrastructure needs to support recovery programmes for Indigenous community mental health consumers
  • Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample
  • Treatment seeking adults with autism or ADHD and co-morbid substance use disorder: prevalence, risk factors and functional disability
  • Current perspectives on physical activity and exercise recommendations for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders
  • Developing a student-led health and wellbeing clinic in an underserved community: collaborative learning, health outcomes and cost savings
  • Population health outcomes of a student-led free health clinic for an underserved population: a naturalistic study
  • The importance of smoking education and preventative health strategies for people with intellectual disability
  • Chronic disease risks in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: forewarned is forearmed
  • Assessment and treatment of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders
  • A systematic review of treatments for anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders