The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sawsan MA Abuhamdah,1,2 Abdallah Y Naser,3 Safaa Al Awawdeh4 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 2Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/the-jordanian-populations-knowledge-attitudes-and-willingness-to-help--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDH |
| _version_ | 1797834973239050240 |
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| author | Abuhamdah SMA Naser AY Al Awawdeh S |
| author_facet | Abuhamdah SMA Naser AY Al Awawdeh S |
| author_sort | Abuhamdah SMA |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sawsan MA Abuhamdah,1,2 Abdallah Y Naser,3 Safaa Al Awawdeh4 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 2Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 3Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan; 4Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Sawsan MA Abuhamdah, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, P.O. Box: 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tel +971-26133228, Fax +971-24444304, Email sawsan.abuhamdah@aau.ac.aeObjective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of the general public in Jordan towards autism. In addition, we aimed to assess their awareness of various treatment options for autism, and their attentiveness and willingness to assist.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jordan for the period between April and May 2022 using an online questionnaire developed based on a literature review. A total of 833 individuals in Amman city completed the questionnaires assessing participant demographics, knowledge of and attitude towards ADS, awareness of management options, perception, and ability to help. Using logistic regression, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for those who are more likely to be informed about autism were determined.Results: The participants’ overall understanding of autism spectrum disorder was poor, with a mean score of 6.2 (SD: 3.1) out of 17, or 36.5%. The participants showed a moderately positive attitude towards autism, with an average agreement of 60.9% for government support for ADS children. The items about management options auditory integration training therapy had the highest level (50.1%). Additionally, the participants showed a moderate to high level of attention and ability to help people with autism. The majority confirmed that they see the need to implement changes in public facilities to meet the needs of autistic patients (71.8%). When compared to others, females, aged below 30, single, with family income less than 500 JD, holding a bachelor’s degree, and working outside the healthcare field had a higher likelihood of knowing more about the autism spectrum condition (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusion: Our research illustrates the lack of awareness and knowledge among the Jordanian population regarding autism. To fill this gap, educational awareness programs should be conducted to promote Jordanian knowledge regarding autism and find ways in which communities, organisations, and governments can support so as to allow for early diagnoses and an appropriate treatment plan and therapy for autistic children.Keywords: attitude, autism, Jordan, knowledge, public |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:46:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8cd2ea97d9e4d00b34a9032d22d9088 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:46:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8cd2ea97d9e4d00b34a9032d22d90882023-05-02T18:20:12ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare1178-23902023-05-01Volume 161203121383408The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional StudyAbuhamdah SMANaser AYAl Awawdeh SSawsan MA Abuhamdah,1,2 Abdallah Y Naser,3 Safaa Al Awawdeh4 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 2Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 3Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan; 4Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Sawsan MA Abuhamdah, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, P.O. Box: 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tel +971-26133228, Fax +971-24444304, Email sawsan.abuhamdah@aau.ac.aeObjective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of the general public in Jordan towards autism. In addition, we aimed to assess their awareness of various treatment options for autism, and their attentiveness and willingness to assist.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jordan for the period between April and May 2022 using an online questionnaire developed based on a literature review. A total of 833 individuals in Amman city completed the questionnaires assessing participant demographics, knowledge of and attitude towards ADS, awareness of management options, perception, and ability to help. Using logistic regression, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for those who are more likely to be informed about autism were determined.Results: The participants’ overall understanding of autism spectrum disorder was poor, with a mean score of 6.2 (SD: 3.1) out of 17, or 36.5%. The participants showed a moderately positive attitude towards autism, with an average agreement of 60.9% for government support for ADS children. The items about management options auditory integration training therapy had the highest level (50.1%). Additionally, the participants showed a moderate to high level of attention and ability to help people with autism. The majority confirmed that they see the need to implement changes in public facilities to meet the needs of autistic patients (71.8%). When compared to others, females, aged below 30, single, with family income less than 500 JD, holding a bachelor’s degree, and working outside the healthcare field had a higher likelihood of knowing more about the autism spectrum condition (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusion: Our research illustrates the lack of awareness and knowledge among the Jordanian population regarding autism. To fill this gap, educational awareness programs should be conducted to promote Jordanian knowledge regarding autism and find ways in which communities, organisations, and governments can support so as to allow for early diagnoses and an appropriate treatment plan and therapy for autistic children.Keywords: attitude, autism, Jordan, knowledge, publichttps://www.dovepress.com/the-jordanian-populations-knowledge-attitudes-and-willingness-to-help--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDHattitudeautismjordanknowledgepublic |
| spellingShingle | Abuhamdah SMA Naser AY Al Awawdeh S The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare attitude autism jordan knowledge public |
| title | The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | The Jordanian Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness to Help People with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | jordanian population rsquo s knowledge attitudes and willingness to help people with autism a cross sectional study |
| topic | attitude autism jordan knowledge public |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/the-jordanian-populations-knowledge-attitudes-and-willingness-to-help--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDH |
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