Strategies, challenges and enabling factors when imaging autistic individuals in Swiss medical imaging departments.

This study looked at how hospital staff take X-rays and scans of autistic people in Switzerland. Most radiographers (the people who do the scans) had little training about autism. They found that having family support, changing how staff communicate, and adjusting the environment helped. The biggest problems were poor communication between hospital departments and staff not knowing enough about autism.

The researchers suggest better training and clearer procedures to help autistic people have medical scans.

This Swiss study examined how radiographers manage autistic patients during medical imaging procedures. Using surveys and interviews with 100 radiographers, researchers found that only 60 had experience with autistic patients and only 5 had autism-specific training. Key enablers for successful imaging included carer support, adapted staff behaviour, and customised communication. Main challenges were poor communication between services and lack of autism knowledge among staff.

The study recommends developing protocols for better service coordination, autism-specific training for radiographers, scheduling protocols for different imaging types, and environmental modifications. Collaboration between imaging professionals, autistic individuals, and autism organisations is suggested to create autism-specific imaging guidelines.

Results indicate urgent need for autism-specific training programs for radiographers and development of standardised protocols. Environmental modifications and improved inter-service communication could significantly improve imaging experiences for autistic patients. Carer involvement appears crucial for successful procedures.

Small sample size with only 5 interviews conducted. Study limited to Swiss context which may not generalise to other healthcare systems. Self-reported data from radiographers may not reflect actual practice quality or autistic patient experiences.

Autistic individuals may require medical imaging but they can face barriers that are related to lack of adjustments in their care. This study aims to explore and understand strategies currently used by Swiss radiographers to image autistic patients and to propose recommendations for clinical practice. The Swiss Ethics of the canton of Vaud committee approved the study. Data collection was gathered using a mixed method approach by an online survey and followed by selected interviews.

Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. A hundred completed responses to the survey were obtained and five individual interviews were conducted. Sixty participants reported having managed autistic patients. The main enablers identified were: the support from carers, adapting the behaviour of staff and customising communication.

The main challenges were a lack of communication and the lack of knowledge about autism to appropriately manage the patient. Only five radiographers had received prior training in autism. Medical imaging departments must develop protocols to overcome the lack of communication between services, radiographers, and autistic service users. The lack of radiographer knowledge about autism can impact autistic patient management, resulting in carers playing an important role during the examination.

Customised education for radiographers about autism is needed. The development of a scheduling protocol for each imaging modality could improve communication with the patient. The organisation of the physical environment and the patient's preparation for the examination are critical to provide adequate imaging care. It is suggested that medical imaging professionals, autistic service users, and autism organisations collaborate to develop autism related guidelines for medical imaging examinations.