Table 3 Summary of study characteristics and findings
First author, year | Title | Participants/respondents (n) | Age children (years) | Country | Design | Data collection | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benich (2018) [26] | Parental Perception of the Perioperative Experience for Children with Autism | 12, 10 mothers, 1 father, 1 grandmother | 3–16 | USA | Qualitative design | Interviews | The study indicates that children with ASD pose a unique challenge to HCPs, and that HPCs need to develop skills for assessing and managing care |
Clark (2019) [27] | Improving Communication Between Health Care Providers, Families, and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Linked Program | 31 children | 20 months–18 years | USA | Evidence-based practice | Telephone calls with parents | The program enabled a better communication between families and caregivers, and provided awareness to the caregivers of different challenges in the perioperative setting for children and families |
Fahy (2020) [28] | Improving peri-operative psychosocial interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder undergoing ENT procedures | 25 HCPs, 9 parents | 10.33 years + /- 2.199 | Ireland | Quantitative and qualitative design | Interviews | The care of each child requires an individualized, parent-led plan |
Lindberg (2012) [29] | The experiences of parents of children with severe autism in connection with their children’s anesthetics, in the presence and absence of the perioperative dialogue: a hermeneutic study | 12 parents | 5–16 | Sweden | Qualitative design | Interview | The study indicates continuity in anesthesia care makes a difference. Inviting partners and children in the dialogue makes a difference |
Snow (2021) [30] | A balancing act: An interpretive description of healthcare providers and families perspective on the surgical experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder | 8 parents 15 HCPs | 3–18 | Canada | Qualitative design | Interview | The study highlighted a number of factors that create challenges and have a potential to improve the parents and patients experiences, such as importance of collaborative relations between HCP and families, and a need for flexible policies |
Swartz (2017) [31] | Benefits of an individualized perioperative plan for children with autism spectrum disorder | 124 parents | 9.7 +/- 4.0 | Canada | Quantitative and Qualitative design | Post-operative contact | The study suggests that implementation of an individualized ASD perioperative management program based on the parents’ input is helpful |
Taghizadeh (2019) [32] | The experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder, their caregivers and health care providers during day procedure: A mixed methods study | 14 HCP and 15 parents |  | Australia | Qualitative and quantitative design | Interviews | The study indicates that optimizing care for children with ASD may include changed workflow, staff training and use of aids |
Thompson (2014) [33] | Improving Management of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder Having Scheduled Surgery: Optimizing Practice | 43 caregivers | 3–16 | USA | Qualitative design | Interview | The study highlights the importance of knowing details about the child behavior and needs prior to the initial contact |
Tziraki (2021) [34] | A Neuroimaging Preparation Protocol Tailored for Autism | 31 children, 25 caregivers | 4, 5–10 | Greece | Quantitative and Qualitative design | Open-ended questions | A pediatric patient preparation protocol that included dummy headphones, earplugs, and a social story, successfully facilitated awake MRI imaging with children with ASD |
Whippey (2019) [35] | Enhanced perioperative management of children with autism: a pilot study | 18 children | 3–17 | Canada | Qualitative and Quantitative design | Questionnaire, partly with open-ended question | This pilot study highlighted a multidisciplinary perioperative care pathway that improves the perioperative experience for severely autistic children and their families |