Assessing pediatricians’ preparedness for autism detection in Kyrgyzstan

Context and relevance: Limited physician knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains a major barrier to its timely detection and to the provision of early intervention. Pediatricians play a crucial role in the early identification of ASD. This study is the first to evaluate autism awareness among pediatricians in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. Objective: To determine the level of autism-related knowledge among pediatricians in Bishkek in order to substantiate the inclusion of ASD-specific content in medical education programs. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that physicians’ knowledge levels would correlate with their access to specialized training and familiarity with the national Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Individuals Under 19 Years of Age. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 46 pediatricians from medical institutions in Bishkek using the validated Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) questionnaire. This 19-item instrument assesses knowledge across four domains: social interaction, communication, stereotyped behaviors, and comorbidity/age of onset. Statistical analysis was performed using XLSTAT. Results: The mean total knowledge score was 12.69 out of 19, indicating a moderate level of knowledge. The highest awareness was observed in the social interaction domain (75.5% correct responses). Critically low knowledge was found regarding comorbid conditions (e.g., epilepsy, correctly identified by 15.2% of respondents) and the typical age of ASD onset (21.8% error rate). Knowledge about eating disorders associated with ASD was also limited (30.46% correct responses). Notably, 73.9% of physicians were unfamiliar with the national clinical guidelines on ASD. Conclusions: The study revealed substantial knowledge gaps among pediatricians, particularly in diagnosing comorbidities and recognizing early signs of ASD. These findings highlight the need to: 1. Integrate ASD-related modules into undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula; 2. Provide systematic training on the use of national clinical guidelines; and 3. Develop continuing medical education programs on ASD in Kyrgyzstan.