Experiences and perceptions of physical healthcare among adult autistic patients: A scoping review

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Hedlund, Å., Andersson, A., Lindberg, M., & Jordal, M. (2025). Experiences and perceptions of physical healthcare among adult autistic patients: A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 9, 100366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100366

Publication date: 10 Jun 2025 Added to AutiHub: 22 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. Åsa Hedlund *
  2. Anna Andersson
  3. Magnus Lindberg
  4. Malin Jordal

Abstract

Background and purpose: The number of people diagnosed with autism is increasing globally, and autism is associated with poorer health outcomes. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how physical healthcare is experienced and perceived by adult autistic patients. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the research on adult autistic patients' experiences and perceptions of physical health care. Results: Sixteen articles from four databases were included. They originated from the US, Europe, and Australia. Most of the articles were published between 2022 and 2024 and employed qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches. Adult autistic patients' experiences and perceptions of physical healthcare concerned various aspects, including the healthcare organization, rooms and spaces, healthcare staff, and physical examinations and treatments. The patients need opportunities to engage in written communication with healthcare staff, as well as waiting room environments that are low-sensory in nature. Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicated that the healthcare needs of adult autistic patients were not being met, particularly concerning communication and sensory impressions. Additionally, there is a need for further research on inpatient hospital care as well as physical examinations and treatments.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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

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: 12 Sep 2026 18:15.

Cited references
41
With a DOI
33
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
8
7 / 41 (17.1%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
7 / 41 (17.1%)
References with detected author names
34 / 41 (82.9%)
Without detected author names
7
Without a structured title
6
Without a stable identifier
8
References with raw author names still to review
0
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
238
From DOI or external metadata
238
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
6
103 / 238 (43.3%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 135 / 238 (56.7%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
16 / 238 (6.7%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 16 / 103 (15.5%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 13 / 211 (6.2%).
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