ECHO Autism: Evaluation of Participants’ Perceptions of Collaborative Telementoring Network

Abstract

Introduction: Primary care clinicians report inadequate training and lack of support regarding identification of early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), resulting in later diagnosis and poor outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of participants in ECHO Autism project regarding the value of the virtual collaborative as a mentoring tool. Methods: We completed a retrospective cross-sectional study of post-virtual clinic surveys of all participants who attended Autism ECHO from September 2, 2015 to June 5, 2019. Results: There were 87 Autism ECHO sessions held, with 83 didactic presentations. A total of 92 de-identified patient cases were discussed with 490 unique learners in attendance. Participants reported increase in self-efficacy in identifying ASD symptoms in children, assessing medical comorbidities, and learning new information. Discussion: Continuing education platforms in healthcare professions are increasingly embracing virtual live-interactive conferences. They provide opportunities to connect with experts, but also hear from peers regarding real-life case examples. During COVID-19 pandemic ECHO Autism was a lifeline for rural providers and will likely continue to increase in participation.