Simmons, SD;
Brugaletta, C;
Emmanuel, AV;
(2024)
Gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic children during Covid-19 lockdown: A qualitative study of family experience.
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
, 114
, Article 102406. 10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102406.
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Abstract
Background: Autistic individuals face barriers to healthcare access and premature mortality. There is an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in autistic children compared to not-autistic children. There is a complex interplay between these GI symptoms and various aspects of behaviour, sleep, and mental health in autistic children. Lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic changed the delivery of healthcare for all patient groups, and it is particularly important to understand the effects of this on vulnerable groups. In this qualitative study we document the family experiences associated with managing persistent GI symptoms in autistic children and access to related healthcare for these children during Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions. Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 parents of autistic children and subjected data from these interviews to qualitative analysis. Results: Two themes emerged (i) Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions changed the children's reported GI symptoms in a non-uniform manner; and (ii) parents were divided on the appropriateness of telemedicine services for their child. Some parents reported an increase in their child's anxiety level that was linked to worsening of GI symptoms. Those parents who reported a reduction in their child's social anxiety during lockdown related this to improved GI symptoms. Parents reported advantages and disadvantages of both in-person and telemedicine consultations, and they were split on their preferences for these appointment types. Conclusions: Telemedicine is preferred by some but not all families of autistic children. Clinicians should consider the interplay between anxiety and GI symptoms in autistic children when assessing and treating GI symptoms.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic children during Covid-19 lockdown: A qualitative study of family experience |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102406 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102406 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Autism, Gastrointestinal, Covid-19 lockdown, Qualitative research |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Inst for Liver and Digestive Hlth |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10191821 |
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