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A systematic review conducted by SPCR doctoral student Barry Coughlan, published in  Health and Social Care in the Community, reveals variations in knowledge between GPs from different healthcare systems around the world. The study explored what GPs know about autism and the factors that influence their ability to identify and manage care for their patients. 

The press release from the Primary Care Unit at the University of Cambridge states "GPs often play a crucial role in detecting autism in children and managing care for children with autism and tend to be viewed as authorities on child development. They are often the first stop for parents who suspect that their child might be developing atypically. Although research in autism has proliferated in recent years, a synthesis of the literature relating to this important hub on the diagnostic pathway was lacking."

Read the full release: It’s not clear where General Practitioners/Family Doctors get their information about autism, but is “more training” the only answer?