From: Autistic adults have poorer quality healthcare and worse health based on self-report data
 | Autistic N (%) | Non-autistic N (%) | Unadjusted model | Adjusted modela | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OR (95% CI) | p-value | OR (95% CI) | p-value | |||
Able to see healthcare professionals as often as they would like | 693 (54.14) | 1041 (76.38) | 0.365 (0.308, 0.433) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.409 (0.343, 0.487) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Has health insurance or is part of a national healthcare program (e.g. NHS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) | 991 (78.78) | 1095 (82.89) | 0.766 (0.626, 0.937) | 7.97 × 10–3 | 1.026 (0.824, 1.277) | 0.818 |
Sensory experience | ||||||
Reported at least one sensory difference (hyper- or hyposensitivity) | 1199 (93.31) | 609 (44.65) | 17.263 (13.494, 22.298) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 17.984 (13.970, 23.152) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I am able to describe how my symptoms feel in my body | 707 (55.58) | 1174 (87.35) | 0.181 (0.148, 0.221) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.187 (0.152, 0.230) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I am able to describe how bad my pain feels | 650 (51.06) | 1129 (84.00) | 0.199 (0.165, 0.239) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.193 (0.158, 0.234) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I am able to describe my sensory processing differences to healthcare professionals | 496 (41.96) | 355 (59.97) | 0.483 (0.393, 0.593) | 1.00 × 10–12 | 0.480 (0.388, 0.594) | 2.11 × 10–11 |
The sensory environment of the waiting room is more overwhelming than other environments | 896 (70.44) | 420 (31.37) | 5.211 (4.398, 6.183) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.253 (4.404, 6.266) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
The sensory environment of the office is more overwhelming than other environments | 745 (58.66) | 343 (25.56) | 4.131 (3.489, 4.896) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.202 (3.524, 5.011) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
My senses frequently overwhelm me so that I have trouble focusing on conversations with healthcare professionals | 801 (62.97) | 240 (17.87) | 7.809 (6.503, 9.400) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 7.587 (6.267, 9.185) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Communication | ||||||
I am usually able to explain what my symptoms are | 848 (66.93) | 1213 (91.27) | 0.194 (0.153, 0.243) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.202 (0.159, 0.256) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I usually understand what my healthcare professional means when they discuss my health | 957 (75.47) | 1251 (94.20) | 0.190 (0.144, 0.248) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.198 (0.150, 0.261) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I do not usually ask all the questions I would like to about my health | 983 (77.71) | 745 (56.31) | 2.703 (2.271, 3.223) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 2.503 (2.089, 2.999) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I can bring up a health concern even if my healthcare professional doesn't ask about it | 704 (55.65) | 1019 (76.96) | 0.376 (0.316, 0.446) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.365 (0.304, 0.439) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I know what is expected of me when I go to see my healthcare professional | 665 (52.45) | 1099 (82.82) | 0.229 (0.190, 0.275) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.217 (0.179, 0.264) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Anxiety | ||||||
The idea of going to see a healthcare professional makes me feel anxious | 1044 (82.79) | 813 (61.73) | 2.981 (2.473, 3.602) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 2.797 (2.308, 3.390) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
The environment of the waiting room or office makes me feel anxious | 1003 (79.67) | 602 (45.75) | 4.644 (3.887, 5.559) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.509 (3.751, 5.421) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I feel anxious when I see a different healthcare professional to whom I expect | 1053 (83.70) | 595 (45.28) | 6.202 (5.140, 7.505) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 6.111 (5.036, 7.414) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
The process of setting up an appointment makes me anxious | 1053 (83.70) | 715 (54.37) | 4.308 (3.570, 5.212) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.500 (3.700, 5.475) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
The process of picking up a prescription makes me anxious | 716 (57.05) | 320 (24.37) | 4.119 (3.471, 4.897) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.084 (3.410, 4.892) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
I frequently leave my healthcare professional's office feeling as though I did not receive any help at all | 786 (62.43) | 428 (32.55) | 3.442 (2.918, 4.064) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 3.233 (2.729, 3.830) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Access and advocacy | ||||||
Chosen not to go in to see a healthcare professional | 996 (79.30) | 850 (65.69) | 2.000 (1.668, 2.402) | 1.44 × 10–14 | 2.145 (1.777, 2.590) | 3.11 × 10–15 |
I know who to contact if I have a healthcare concern | 951 (75.84) | 1120 (86.49) | 0.491 (0.397, 0.605) | 5.69 × 10–12 | 0.449 (0.359, 0.563) | 4.43 × 10–12 |
If I need to go see a healthcare professional, I am able to get there | 1017 (81.30) | 1215 (93.82) | 0.286 (0.216, 0.376) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.301 (0.225, 0.401) | 4.44 × 10–16 |
I usually bring someone along to help support me in my appointments | 432 (34.45) | 267 (20.65) | 2.019 (1.684, 2.424) | 6.12 × 10–15 | 2.296 (1.874, 2.813) | 1.55 × 10–15 |
If I need to go to the pharmacy, I am able to get there | 1101 (87.87) | 1252 (96.75) | 0.243 (0.167, 0.348) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.294 (0.203, 0.425) | 9.67 × 10–11 |
I am able to follow a procedure for next steps if asked (for example, I will attend follow-up appointments, annual checkups if applicable, etc.) | 1009 (80.59) | 1188 (91.88) | 0.367 (0.285, 0.471) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.348 (0.268, 0.452) | 4.22 × 10–15 |
I am able to make appointments for myself | 1022 (81.56) | 1188 (92.09) | 0.380 (0.294, 0.489) | 2.54 × 10–15 | 0.334 (0.252, 0.443) | 2.75 × 10–14 |
I will wait until it is an emergency before I go to see a healthcare professional | 815 (64.99) | 673 (52.09) | 1.707 (1.451, 2.009) | 4.02 × 10–11 | 1.619 (1.369, 1.915) | 2.09 × 10–8 |
System problems | ||||||
In most appointments, I have enough time to discuss my concerns with healthcare professionals | 515 (41.47) | 880 (69.79) | 0.307 (0.259, 0.363) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.337 (0.284, 0.401) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
If I need to go to see a specialist for a healthcare concern, I am able to do so | 762 (61.55) | 1011 (80.17) | 0.396 (0.329, 0.476) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.450 (0.372, 0.545) | 4.44 × 10–16 |
I often choose not to go to the doctor with concerns if I need to see a specialist because I know that it will take my many appointments before I can see the specialist | 702 (56.57) | 494 (39.24) | 2.016 (1.714, 2.373) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 1.923 (1.625, 2.277) | 4.13 × 10–14 |
I usually leave my appointments knowing what the next steps are (i.e. follow-up appointments, medications, etc.) | 839 (67.66) | 1052 (83.76) | 0.406 (0.333, 0.493) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.423 (0.345, 0.519) | 2.22 × 10–16 |
I am provided with appropriate support after I receive a diagnosis of any kind (i.e. anything from infections to chronic conditions) | 474 (38.23) | 920 (73.25) | 0.226 (0.190, 0.269) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 0.249 (0.209, 0.297) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Triggers for a shutdown | ||||||
The idea of going to see a healthcare professional | 498 (40.65) | 138 (11.06) | 5.506 (4.446, 6.850) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.623 (4.497, 7.029) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Setting up an appointment to see a healthcare professional | 470 (38.37) | 129 (10.50) | 5.305 (4.260, 6.638) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.534 (4.397, 6.963) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Sensory environment of the waiting room | 538 (43.95) | 134 (10.84) | 6.445 (5.196, 8.032) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 6.249 (5.002, 7.808) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Sensory environment of the office | 457 (37.49) | 98 (7.96) | 6.934 (5.453, 8.885) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 6.659 (5.194, 8.538) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Seeing a different healthcare professional to whom you expect | 467 (38.15) | 94 (7.62) | 7.475 (5.861, 9.611) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 7.378 (5.734, 9.493) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Talking to a healthcare professional | 504 (41.14) | 130 (10.53) | 5.937 (4.775, 7.419) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 6.001 (4.777, 7.537) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Picking up a prescription | 204 (16.68) | 46 (3.74) | 5.145 (3.676, 7.329) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.076 (3.579, 7.201) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Having to see many healthcare professionals before being able to talk to a specialist | 510 (41.53) | 148 (11.98) | 5.213 (4.229, 6.453) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.949 (3.987, 6.143) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
After a diagnosis of any kind due to lack of follow-up or support | 589 (48.52) | 179 (14.55) | 5.529 (4.537, 6.758) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.405 (4.402, 6.636) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Triggers for a meltdown | ||||||
The idea of going to see a healthcare professional | 209 (17.06) | 55 (4.41) | 4.460 (3.257, 6.190) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.372 (3.160, 6.050) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Setting up an appointment to see a healthcare professional | 194 (15.84) | 49 (3.99) | 4.529 (3.255, 6.401) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.212 (2.998, 5.919) | 2.22 × 10–16 |
Sensory environment of the waiting room | 218 (17.81) | 39 (3.16) | 6.648 (4.655, 9.703) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 6.178 (4.298, 8.880) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Sensory environment of the office | 160 (13.13) | 27 (2.19) | 6.738 (4.419, 10.634) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.946 (3.874, 9.128) | 4.44 × 10–16 |
Seeing a different healthcare professional to whom you expect | 215 (17.57) | 38 (3.08) | 6.701 (4.676, 9.828) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 6.078 (4.212, 8.771) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Talking to a healthcare professional | 198 (16.16) | 42 (3.40) | 5.473 (3.861, 7.913) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.299 (3.712, 7.565) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
Picking up a prescription | 116 (9.49) | 20 (1.63) | 6.330 (3.884, 10.822) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 5.158 (3.143, 8.466) | 1.01 × 10–10 |
Having to see many healthcare professionals before being able to talk to a specialist | 317 (25.81) | 84 (6.80) | 4.765 (3.674, 6.232) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.604 (3.519, 6.025) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |
After a diagnosis of any kind due to lack of follow-up or support | 394 (32.46) | 110 (8.94) | 4.889 (3.870, 6.212) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 | 4.858 (3.810, 6.195) |  < 2.22 × 10–16 |