Primary Care Health Checks for Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Study of Autistic Adults’, Carers/Supporters’, and Primary Care Staff’s Perspectives

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 autistic adults, 5 carers/supporters, 11 health professionals, and 4 people undertaking administrative duties ( n = 44). Participants were from 26 practices that delivered the health check. Interviews focused on experiences of the health check, adjustments provided, and barriers and facilitators to delivery.

We analyzed data thematically using a reflexive and iterative approach. Results: We generated three themes: (1) Negotiating and facilitating adjustments to enable access to care, (2) creating ways for sharing information and listening to enable holistic care, and (3) meeting needs in a personalized way. Autistic adults valued personalized adjustments (facilitated through a pre-appointment questionnaire) and being able to discuss their health and well-being in a comprehensive and personalized way without judgment.

Carers/supporters valued involvement and highlighted how they supported communication and provided emotional support to the autistic adult. Health professionals appreciated training, the pre-appointment questionnaire, and clinician template in enabling them to provide holistic, personalized care. Reported impacts included identifying unrecognized concerns, new referrals, medication adjustments, improved understanding of health and well-being, and enhanced engagement with primary care.

Some people experienced challenges including inconsistent delivery of requested adjustments and logistical barriers to arranging appointments. Conclusion: Autistic adults, carers/supporters, and primary care staff generally experienced the health check positively, with participants describing improved knowledge of access to primary care, better patient satisfaction, and positive health, well-being and care outcomes. Findings support the feasibility and value of embedding structured primary care health checks for autistic adults.