Cognizance and Application of Autism Screening and Intervention Tools among Mental Health Professionals at Chandan Hospital, Lucknow: A Cross-sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajhp.v4i1.7367Keywords:
Attitudes, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Health Personnel, India, Knowledge, Practice, Screening ToolsAbstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a major neuro- developmental condition marked by social-communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. In India, under-diagnosis is common due to limited awareness and inconsistent application of standardized diagnostic tools. This study explores the level of cognizance and utilization of autism screening and intervention instruments among mental health professionals in a tertiary hospital setting.The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and practical application of validated autism screening and intervention tools among mental health professionals at Chandan Hospital, Lucknow. cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2025 among 153 psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatric social workers, and nurses. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating demographic details, the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) scale, and a 5-point Likert scale assessing familiarity and frequency of tool use (ISAA, CARS, M-CHAT, ADOS, ADI-R). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation.Participants demonstrated moderate autism knowledge (M = 12.71, SD = 3.32) but low application of screening tools (M = 2.74, SD = 1.17). Significant differences were observed across professions (p < .01), with psychiatrists and psychologists scoring higher. Knowledge correlated positively with application (r = .42, p < .01), suggesting awareness influences clinical practice.Despite moderate awareness, the use of standardized autism tools remains limited. Institutional training, inter-professional collaboration, and policy-level support are essential to bridge the knowledge-practice gap and promote early identification of ASD in Indian healthcare settings.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rajeev Misra, Divyanshi Singh, Akanksha Mishra, Nehashree Srivastava, Anshita Mishra, Rajgopal Reddy
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