Strategies for Disseminating Information on Biomedical Research on Autism to Hispanic Parents

Clara M Lajonchere; Barbara Y Wheeler; Thomas W Valente; Cary Kreutzer; Aron Munson; Shrikanth Narayanan; Abe Kazemzadeh; Roxana Cruz; Irene Martinez; Sheree M Schrager; Lisa Schweitzer; Tara Chklovski; Darryl Hwang

doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2649-5

Strategies for Disseminating Information on Biomedical Research on Autism to Hispanic Parents

J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Mar;46(3):1038-50. doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2649-5.

Authors

Clara M Lajonchere^{1

2}, Barbara Y Wheeler^{3

4}, Thomas W Valente⁵, Cary Kreutzer^{6

7

8}, Aron Munson^{5

9}, Shrikanth Narayanan¹, Abe Kazemzadeh^{1

10}, Roxana Cruz^{6

11

12}, Irene Martinez^{11

13}, Sheree M Schrager¹⁴, Lisa Schweitzer¹⁵, Tara Chklovski¹⁶, Darryl Hwang^{1

16

17}

Affiliations

¹ University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, 3740 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90089-2564, USA.
² Autism Speaks, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, MS 53, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA. bwheeler@chla.usc.edu.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. bwheeler@chla.usc.edu.
⁵ Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2001 N. Soto St, Room 302 W, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-3628, USA.
⁶ USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, MS 53, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA.
⁷ Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁸ University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0191, USA.
⁹ Loma Linda University Medical Center, 30554 Colina Verde, Temecula, CA, 92592, USA.
¹⁰ Vixlet, 3420 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #419, Los Angeles, CA, 90034, USA.
¹¹ Fiesta Educativa, Inc., 161 South Avenue 24, Los Angeles, CA, 90031, USA.
¹² 1736 Family Crisis Center, 3434 Garnet St., Los Angeles, CA, 90023, USA.
¹³ Fiesta Educativa, Inc., P.O. Box 31285, Los Angeles, CA, 90031, USA.
¹⁴ Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., MS #94, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA.
¹⁵ University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy, 311 RGL, Los Angeles, CA, 90016, USA.
¹⁶ Iridescent, 532 W 22nd St., Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA.
¹⁷ USC Department of Radiology, Healthcare Consultation Center II, 1520 San Pablo St. L1600, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.

Abstract

Low income Hispanic families experience multiple barriers to accessing evidence-based information on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study utilized a mixed-strategy intervention to create access to information in published bio-medical research articles on ASD by distilling the content into parent-friendly English- and Spanish-language ASD Science Briefs and presenting them to participants using two socially-oriented dissemination methods. There was a main effect for short-term knowledge gains associated with the Science Briefs but no effect for the dissemination method. After 5 months, participants reported utilizing the information learned and 90% wanted to read more Science Briefs. These preliminary findings highlight the potential benefits of distilling biomedical research articles on ASD into parent-friendly educational products for currently underserved Hispanic parents.

Keywords: Biomedical research on Autism; Health literacy; Hispanic/Latino; Racial disparities.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Autism Spectrum Disorder / ethnology*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology
Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy
Biomedical Research / methods*
Female
Health Literacy / methods
Hispanic or Latino / ethnology*
Hispanic or Latino / psychology
Humans
Information Dissemination / methods*
Language
Male
Middle Aged
Parents / education*
Parents / psychology
Patient Education as Topic / methods*

Abstract

MeSH terms

Grants and funding