Objective: Previous work has raised questions about the role of general practitioners (GPs) in the identification of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorders (autism) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). This study aimed to explore how GPs identify these conditions in practice and their perspectives on recent changes to local referral pathways that mean referrals to the neurodevelopmental team come through educational professionals and health visitors, rather than GPs. This study also aimed to explore Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) specialist's perspectives on the role of GPs.

Setting: GP practices, local neurodevelopmental services and specialist CAMHS services in the UK.

Participants: semistructured interviews were conducted with GPs (n=8), specialists in local CAMHS (n=7), and professionals at national CAMHS services around the country (n=10). Interviews were conducted between January and May 2019. A framework approach informed by thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results: GPs drew on various forms of tacit and explicit information including behavioural markers, parental report, prior knowledge of the family, expert and lay resources. Opinions varied between GPs regarding changes to the referral pathway, with some accepting the changes and others describing it as a 'disaster'. CAMHS specialists tended to feel that GPs required more neurodevelopmental training and time to conduct consultations.

Conclusion: This study adds to the literature showing that GPs use an array of information sources when making referral decisions for autism and ADHD. Further work is urgently required to evaluate the impact of reconfiguring neurodevelopmental referral pathways such that GPs have a diminished role in identification.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9014038PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049821DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

referral pathways
12
gps
9
identification neurodevelopmental
8
neurodevelopmental conditions
8
changes referral
8
study aimed
8
aimed explore
8
camhs services
8
interviews conducted
8
neurodevelopmental
6

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!