Acceptability and Implementation of a Primary Care Health Check for Autistic People: Findings From Evaluation Questionnaires and Interviews

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Merrick, H., Taylor, H., Ingham, B., Finch, T., Al-Ashmori, S., Herrington, R., Scarlett, C., Buckley, C., Cooper, S., Fernandez-García, C., Haining, S., Lees, R., Lennox, N., Moss, S., Nicholls, T., Nicolaidis, C., Osborne, M., Raymaker, D. M., Robinson, T.,..., & Parr, J. R. (2026). Acceptability and Implementation of a Primary Care Health Check for Autistic People: Findings From Evaluation Questionnaires and Interviews. Autism, 13623613261433106-13623613261433106. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261433106

Publication date: 16 Jun 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
23
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 23 (4.3%)
  1. Hannah Merrick
  2. Helen Taylor
  3. Barry Ingham
  4. Tracy Finch
  5. Sarah Al-Ashmori
  6. Ruby Herrington
  7. Clare Scarlett
  8. Carole Buckley
  1. Sally‐Ann Cooper
  2. Cristina Fernandez-García
  3. Shona Haining
  4. Rhianna Lees
  5. Nicholas Lennox
  6. Sebastian Moss
  7. Tim Nicholls
  8. Christina Nicolaidis
  1. Malcolm Osborne
  2. Dora M Raymaker *
  3. Tomos Robinson
  4. Anna Urbanowicz
  5. James Wason
  6. Colin Wilson
  7. Jeremy R. Parr

Abstract

Autistic people experience higher rates of physical and mental health conditions and face barriers to accessing healthcare. This study evaluated the acceptability and implementation of a co-designed primary care health check for autistic people (18 years+), delivered within a randomised controlled trial in Northern England investigating clinical and cost-effectiveness. Following health checks, all autistic people, carers/supporters, and clinicians were invited to complete evaluation questionnaires and a subset invited for an interview. Eighty-one autistic people, 11 carers/supporters, and 18 clinicians returned questionnaires and were descriptively analysed; 44 participants were interviewed. Findings demonstrated that the pre-appointment questionnaire and health check appointment were reported to be acceptable, valued and beneficial by all groups. Carers/supporters reported positive impacts of their role in reducing anxiety and supporting communication. Interview analysis, informed by Normalisation Process Theory, highlighted important factors to consider for implementation of the health check at scale. This included the importance of providing clear guidance and resources ahead of the health check and ensuring enough funding and capacity in primary care. Health checks can be delivered to autistic people in local neighbourhoods to address heath inequalities. Health checks require adequate resources, staff training, and integration into care systems to ensure successful implementation and sustainability. Lay Abstract Improving healthcare for autistic people: a study of a new primary care health check Autistic people often face more health problems and shorter average life expectancy compared to non-autistic people. They can also find it harder to access healthcare that meets their needs. To help with this, researchers developed a new health check specifically for autistic people to be used in general practice settings. This health check included a pre-appointment questionnaire to help prepare for the visit and a longer appointment with a trained clinician. This study looked at how acceptable the health check was for autistic people, their carers/supporters, and clinicians, and what factors will help it work well in practice. It used questionnaires and interviews to collect views from autistic people who received the health check, clinicians who delivered it, and carers/supporters who attended the appointment. Most autistic people thought the health check was helpful and they would attend one again. The pre-appointment questionnaire helped people share important information, although some found it difficult to complete and some people needed support to complete it. Carers/supporters also found the process helpful in supporting the autistic adult and improving communication. Clinicians said they were able to put adjustments in place, use the clinician health check template, and found the extra time and structure the health check provided useful. However, they mentioned needing more resources and support to make it work in everyday practice. The interviews showed that autistic people, carers/supporters, and clinicians thought the health check is a good idea and should be offered more widely. It is important to make sure autistic people understand what to expect from the health check and that they can ask for adjustments to meet their needs. For the health check to work well long term, general practice settings will need funding, staff training in autism awareness, and clear systems for delivering the health checks.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
40
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
6 / 40 (15.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
14 / 261 (5.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 14 / 149 (9.4%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 6 / 174 (3.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
149 / 261 (57.1%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 65 / 174 (37.4%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
135 / 149 (90.6%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 135 / 261 (51.7%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 59 / 65 (90.8%).
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