Happy, Healthy and Empowered: Meeting the Healthcare needs of children and young people with Autism following major trauma

Background Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a young person communicates and relates to their environment and people around them. Autistic children and young people... [ view full abstract ]

Background
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a young person communicates and relates to their environment and people around them. Autistic children and young people can be challenging to manage in the clinical care setting particularly following major trauma.
Experience has highlighted that children and young people with Autism have protracted hospital stay and appear to not have their psycho-social needs or specific sensory special interests met. Reflection shows that lack of staff awareness in communication is the key indicator. To ameliorate this situation and improve quality care provision a range of communication measures have been put in place.
Methods
A case study approach was used which included data collection from a locally held trauma database, staff, service users and Autism Champions.
Results
Families and carers were involved in raising awareness of the needs of children with Autism following major trauma. Resources and policy were developed to meet these needs. Interdisciplinary working strengthened the role of the Autism Champion and improved patient care outcomes.
Conclusions
All children benefit from safe, individualised, quality care in a supportive environment; enabling empowerment to meet their own health needs. Adapting attitudes and behaviours of staff through communication training result in positive experiences for staff, children, families and benefit to the organisation improving quality and standards of interventional patient care.