First Contact in The Diagnosis Process of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Comparison of The Knowledge Levels of Pediatricians and Primary Care Physicians Working in The Province of Diyarbakir and Investigation of Influencing Factors

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge level and clinical approach of pediatricians and primary care physicians who first come into contact with children regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods: This cross-sectional study included 188 physicians who agreed to participate. Data were collected using the Childhood Autism Knowledge Scale for Healthcare Professionals (KCAWH) and a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information. Data were analyzed based on sociodemographic characteristics, ASD knowledge scores, and case referral practices.Results: The mean total KCAWH score of the participants was found to be 13.85 ± 2.12. There was no statistically significant difference between the total knowledge scores of pediatricians and primary care physicians (p0.05). A one-way ANOVA test for total knowledge scores across age groups revealed a statistically significant difference (F(2.185) = 3.717; p = 0.026). According to the post-hoc analysis results, the knowledge scores of physicians in the 27-40 age group (14.12 ± 2.17) were found to be significantly higher than those in the 41-50 age group (13.23 ± 1.83) (p = 0.047). Female gender was identified to be the strongest independent factor predicting knowledge level in the regression analysis (p=0.016).Conclusion: Screening processes, which play an important role in early diagnosis, need to be improved, and physicians need to be supported with practical and routine training.