Conclusion
autism
The findings from this qualitative study provides valuable insights into the perceptions and experiences of Australian GPs regarding the contextual enablers and barriers that impact their participation in developmental surveillance programs, and in particular, the potential and beneficial usage of digital screening tools for developmental surveillance including the early identification of autism.Additional policies and systems-based research are needed, particularly in relation to the role of not only GPs but other community based services that interact with preschool children and their families. We believe there needs to be a multi-prong approach of using every opportunistic contact in the preschool period for identifying developmental differences as they emerge. In this regard, the team is also trialling developmental checks using the Watch Me Grow web link in other settings using services that the families are already engaged with and trust. These include multicultural playgroups, early childhood education centres and NGOs providing social care and other community-based services to empower and engage families in developmental monitoring of their children [There is an urgent need to improve GP’s skills and confidence in the early and accurate identification of developmental disabilities, including autism, and their knowledge of pathways for providing care for these children. To undertake developmental surveillance and the early identification of autism, GPs require updated training on the early signs of developmental disabilities as well as how to raise developmental difference with parents/caregivers. Further, culturally sensitive ways of supporting children and their families is important, along with access to accurate evidence-based early identification tools. As time and financial constraints emerged as barriers to the implementation of developmental monitoring, addressing this through the creation of remuneration for GPs to specifically undertake child developmental surveillance will facilitate access to early identification of autism. Furthermore, integrated referral pathways and models of care are also critical to address some of the identified barriers. Overall, this qualitative study is one component of a larger study that, together with the other components, is expected to provide much needed evidence on the implementation of an effective national, digital developmental surveillance program for early identification of developmental disabilities, including autism, in the primary care setting. Thus, the model being tested here has the unique potential to systematically reach all children/families by using GPs or the equivalent primary care service providers that are universally available in a given population. Further the utilisation of universal service providers in the community who engage with very young children and their families for immunisation or other routine service contacts will provide a feasible framework for equitable access to early developmental checks and a systematic opportunity for early identification of all developmental differences, such as autism, early in life.