Provider and Caregiver Perspectives on Telehealth Assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children: A Multimethod DBPNet Study Exploring Equity.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth uptake increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, including for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessment by developmental-behavioral pediatric (DBP) clinicians. However, little is known about the acceptability of telehealth or its impact on equity in DBP care. OBJECTIVE: Engage providers and caregivers to glean their perspectives on the use of telehealth for ASD assessment in young children, exploring acceptability, benefits, concerns, and its potential role in ameliorating or exacerbating disparities in access to and quality of DBP care. METHODS: This multimethod study used surveys and semistructured interviews to describe provider and family perspectives around the use of telehealth in DBP evaluation of children younger than 5 years with possible ASD between 3/2020 and 12/2021. Surveys were completed by 13 DBP clinicians and 22 caregivers. Semistructured interviews with 12 DBP clinicians and 14 caregivers were conducted, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Acceptance of and satisfaction with telehealth for ASD assessments in DBP were high for clinicians and most caregivers. Pros and cons concerning assessment quality and access to care were noted. Providers raised concerns about equity of telehealth access, particularly for families with a preferred language other than English. CONCLUSION: This study's results can inform the adoption of telehealth in DBP in an equitable manner beyond the pandemic. DBP providers and families desire the ability to choose telehealth care for different assessment components. Unique factors related to performing observational assessments of young children with developmental and behavioral concerns make telehealth particularly well-suited for DBP care.

Caracterización del Comportamiento Sexual y Reproductivo y Acceso A los Servicios de Salud, de los Estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca / Characterization of Sexual and Reproductive Behavior and Access to Health Services, of the Students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Cuenca

ANTECEDENTES: La población universitaria es principal-mente joven y por lo tanto expuesta a factores que puede generar efectos adversos en salud sexual y re-productiva, que conllevan a un bajo rendimiento académico e inclusive a la deserción estudiantil. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar el comportamiento sexual y re-productivo y las necesidades en salud de los en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca. METODOLOGÍA: Tipo de estudio descriptivo. Universo: 3 265 estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca, en el período lectivo septiembre 2014- Febrero 2015. Muestra: fue aleatorizada por conglomerados (carrera y cursos) en las tres escue-las de la facultad de Ciencias Médicas. RESULTADOS: De los estudiantes encuestados, el 44.7% fueron de la escuela de medicina de 27.7% de enfermería, 27.7% tecnología médica; 68.6% mujeres y 31.4% varones, con una edad media de 21 años para ambos grupos; la mayoría son solteros 87.7%, mestizos 94.1% y heterosexuales 97.2%, que residen en zona urbana 81.5%. El 45.7% de las mujeres y el 70.1% de los varones son sexualmente activos, 15% son padres de familia, el 81,6% ha usado un método anticonceptivo MAC, sin embargo el uso consistente es de 55.1%. 66.2% de los encuestados ha acudido a un médico el último año; el 77.3% maneja suficiente información para la prevención de un embarazo y el 79.7% para la prevención de ITS. CONCLUSIONES: Pese a que los estudiantes tienen in-formación en sexualidad y acceden a los servicios de salud, los efectos adversos en salud sexual y reproduc-tiva son identificados como un problema que conlleva a deserción estudiantil y bajo rendimiento académico. Las principales soluciones para combatir los efectos adversos, incluyen: mejorar la calidad de información, fortalecer el acceso a servicios integrales de salud, generar espacios saludables.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize sexual and reproductive be-havior and health needs of students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Cuenca. METHOD: descriptive study type. Universe: 3265 students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Cuenca, in the academic year in September 2014 in February 2015. Sample: was randomized by cluster (ca-reer and courses) in the three schools of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. RESULTS: Of all the surveyed students, 44.7% were from medical school, nursing 27.7%, 27.7% medical technology; 68.6% female and 31.4% male, with a mean age of 21 years; most are unmarried 87.7%, 94.1% are heterosexual, mestizos 97.2% residing in urban areas 81.5%. 45.7% of the women and 70.1% of males are sexually active, 15% are parents, 81.6% have used a contraceptive, however the consistent use of contra-ceptives is 55.1%. 66.2% of respondents have visited a doctor last year; 77.3% handle sufficient information for the prevention of pregnancy and 79.7% for STD prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Although students have information on sexuality and access to health services, adverse effects on sexual and reproductive health are identified as a problem that leads to student dropout and low aca-demic performance. The main solutions to combat the adverse effects include: improving the quality of infor-mation, enhance access to comprehensive health ser-vices, generating healthy spaces.