The experiences of autistic medical students in relation to seeking and receiving online support: A phenomenological study

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. two authors of this publication are identified as autistic in the project.

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Cooper, S., Doherty, M., & Shaw, S. C. (2026). The experiences of autistic medical students in relation to seeking and receiving online support: A phenomenological study. PLOS One, 21(3), e0345156. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0345156

Publication date: 20 Mar 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 3 (66.7%)
  1. Samantha Cooper
  2. Mary Doherty *
  3. Sebastian C.K. Shaw *

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that autistic medical students experienced specific challenges throughout their medical studies, including isolation, bullying, and discrimination from their institutions - alongside receiving minimal support. Despite this, it has been argued that many autistic characteristics are well aligned with practising medicine, bringing key benefits to patient care. 'Autistic Medical Students' (AMS) is an online international support group, containing over 200 members - a sub-group of Autistic Doctors International. This study aims to explore the experiences of AMS membership and if membership has any wider impacts on medical studies or wellbeing. Within this, it aims to explore the experiences that led to seeking this support. METHODS: This was a qualitative study. Five participants from AMS were recruited. Semi-structured, 1:1 interviews were conducted via Zoom. These were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Group experiential themes included: medical culture, belonging, safety, ability to thrive, internalised optimism for the future, and real modelling. Participants experienced systemic ableism and weaponised professionalism, which led to a sense of helplessness for their futures. AMS had a positive impact on participants. They experienced a sense of belonging, alongside an improved ability to both recognise their own needs and implement accommodations. They also felt better able to advocate for support. 'Real modelling' from peers and autistic doctors motivated participants in their wider medical studies. Of particular benefit was that AMS uniquely encompassed both being autistic and a medical student, making its specific support invaluable. DISCUSSION: Findings were in keeping with previous research. Autistic peer-to-peer communication enabled development of social relationships and self-identity. Autistic medical students and doctors exhibit traits that make them assets to medicine. This study highlights the need for knowledge, acceptance and representation of autism within medical education - to enable autistic medical students to thrive.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 01:40.

Cited references
57
With a DOI
49
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
8
26 / 57 (45.6%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
3 / 57 (5.3%)
References with detected author names
55 / 57 (96.5%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
3
Without a stable identifier
8
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
228
From DOI or external metadata
228
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
1
137 / 228 (60.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 91 / 228 (39.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
59 / 228 (25.9%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 59 / 137 (43.1%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 24 / 180 (13.3%).
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