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A Systematic Review of Telemedicine in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of telemedicine use in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 36 articles met inclusion criteria and comprise the final study sample. A majority of the articles included in this review (33) are pilot studies, single-case designs, or case studies/case reports. Three surveys and one randomized controlled trial were also included. Included literature generally supports the feasibility and potential effectiveness of using telemedicine to increase access to autism evaluations and specialist expertise as well as to deliver a variety of interventions to individuals with ASD and/or their caregivers and families. However, methodological rigor in some studies is insufficient to support strong conclusions about impact. There is a need for larger, randomized trials to better determine impact.

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Notes

  1. Web-based (i.e., “eLearning”) and other forms of electronic-based education for individuals with autism or those who provide services or care for them has been reported in the autism-telemedicine literature (e.g., Jang et al. 2012; Wainer and Ingersoll 2013); however, we do not consider under the telemedicine definition, tele-based systems that do not involve person-to-person electronic communication as part of service or care delivery or education and training.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA

    John Knutsen

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street Suite 860, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    John Knutsen

  3. Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health and Autism Treatment Network, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA

    Audrey Wolfe & Daniel Coury

  4. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Bryan L. Burke Jr.

  5. Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anshutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Susan Hepburn

  6. Stead Family Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine, University of Iowa Carver, Iowa, IA, USA

    Scott Lindgren

  7. Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa, IA, USA

    Scott Lindgren

  8. Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA

    Daniel Coury

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  1. John Knutsen
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  2. Audrey Wolfe
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  3. Bryan L. Burke Jr.
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  4. Susan Hepburn
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Correspondence to John Knutsen.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Funding

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement UA3 MC11054–Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the US government. This work was conducted through the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network serving as the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health.

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Table 2 PRISMA checklist
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Table 3 Search strategies
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Knutsen, J., Wolfe, A., Burke, B.L. et al. A Systematic Review of Telemedicine in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 3, 330–344 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-016-0086-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-016-0086-9

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