Table 5 Characteristics associated with Physicians’ ASD knowledge related to the five sub-scores from each factor and total score based on final Multivariable General Linear Models (GLMs) along with the adjusted means of the five sub-scores from each factor and total score for each level of the independent variables in GLMs
Factor | Variable Name | Categories | Adjusted Mean Sub-Score (AMS)† | Adj. Mean difference* | P value** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 - Knowledge of stigma related to ASD (N = 364)*** | City where the clinic is located | Bucharest (Reference) | 1.93 | – | – | |
Brăila | 0.29 | −1.64 | < 0.01 | |||
Suçeava | 1.98 | 0.04 | 0.86 | |||
Other | 1.44 | −0.50 | < 0.01 | |||
Television as a source of ASD knowledge | Yes | 1.70 | 0.34 | 0.02 | ||
No (Reference) | 1.38 | – | – | |||
2 - Knowledge of potential cause (s) for ASD (N = 341) | Age of physician at time of survey (years) | ≤ 35 years old (Y/O) | 2.90 | 0.72 | < 0.01 | |
> 35 Y/O (Reference) | 2.18 | – | – | |||
Average number of patients seen in a day | 0–20 | 2.11 | −0.98 | 0.04 | ||
21–40 | 2.42 | −0.68 | 0.25 | |||
≥ 41 (Reference) | 3.10 | – | – | |||
3 - Knowledge of the behavior of children with ASD (N = 350) | Age of physician at time of survey (years) | ≤ 35 years old (Y/O) | 0.37 | −0.26 | 0.02 | |
> 35 Y/O (Reference) | 0.64 | – | – | |||
Type of medical school attended | Private | 0.57 | −0.57 | 0.03 | ||
Public (Reference) | 1.02 | – | – | |||
City where the clinic is located | Bucharest (Reference) | 0.99 | – | – | ||
Braila | 0.95 | 0.09 | 0.84 | |||
Suceava | 0.30 | −0.69 | < 0.01 | |||
Other | 0.94 | −0.07 | 0.61 | |||
4 - Knowledge of misconceptions about ASD (N = 377) | Television or radio as a source of ASD knowledge | Yes | 0.51 | −0.11 | 0.09 | |
No (Reference) | 0.62 | – | – | |||
5 - Knowledge of educational needs regarding children with ASD (N = 379) | Newspaper as a source of ASD knowledge | Yes | 1.00 | 0.06 | 0.05 | |
No (Reference) | 0.94 | – | – | |||
Total Score (N = 371) | Model 1 | Ward rotation: Psychiatry | Yes | 6.40 | −0.03 | 0.92 |
No (Reference) | 6.43 | – | – | |||
Continuing education as a source of ASD knowledge | Yes | 6.81 | 0.78 | < 0.01 | ||
No (Reference) | 6.03 | – | – | |||
Model 2 | Ward rotation: Pediatrics | Yes | 6.40 | −0.15 | 0.75 | |
No (Reference) | 6.55 | – | – | |||
Continuing education as a source of ASD knowledge | Yes | 6.86 | 0.78 | < 0.01 | ||
No (Reference) | 6.08 | – | – | |||
Model 3 | Ward rotation: Psychiatry and Pediatrics | Yes | 6.41 | 0.03 | 0.93 | |
No (Reference) | 6.39 | – | – | |||
Continuing education as a source of ASD knowledge | Yes | 6.79 | 0.77 | < 0.01 | ||
No (Reference) | 6.01 | – | – | |||