Stage 2

AIM

Building on Stage 1 and existing national and international resources the study:

  1. Created, tested and validated an autism-specific health checklist.
  2. Co-designed and developed a digital pre-appointment questionnaire for the autism health check, pilot use and revised.
  3. Designed a training package for the autism-specific health check.
  4. Piloted the autism-specific health check in NHS primary care and completed final revisions.

METHODS

Create, test and validate an autism-specific health checklist

  • A health checklist, for use by health professionals during the health check, has been developed in consultation with autistic adults, relatives and supporters and health professionals (through focus groups and interviews).
  • In total 26 autistic adults (including 1 autistic adult with a learning disability), 10 adults with a learning disability, 7 relatives/supporters and 28 health professionals have been involved in the consultation to date.

 Co-design and develop a digital pre-appointment questionnaire for the autism health check, pilot use and revise

  • A pre-appointment questionnaire, that the autistic adult will complete before attending their health check, has been developed in consultation with autistic adults, relatives and supporters and health professionals (through focus groups and interviews).
  • In total 26 autistic adults (including 1 autistic adult with a learning disability), 10 adults with a learning disability, 7 relatives/supporters and 28 health professionals have been involved in the consultation to date.
  • This questionnaire includes information about their sensory and communication needs, any reasonable adjustments needed and their general health and wellbeing.
  • This questionnaire will be available in paper form and digitally.

Design a training package for the autism-specific health check

  • A training package for GP Practices who are assigned to deliver the Autism Health Check in the trial has been created.
  • This training package builds on existing materials to increase understanding of autism.
  • Additional materials are being developed in relation to the health check itself, adjustments to healthcare services and about the trial procedures.

Findings

Our findings on the Co-design of an NHS primary care health check for autistic adults are in our recent paper:

Taylor, H., Ingham, B., Mason, D., Finch, T., Wilson, C., Scarlett, C., Moss, S., Buckley, C., Urbanowicz, A., Raymaker, D., Seiboth, C., Lees, R., Garland, D., Osbourne, M., Lennox, N., Cooper, SA., Nicolaidis, C., Parr, J.R. (2023) Co-design of an NHS primary care health check for autistic adults