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Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a major impact on caregivers. We aimed to describe caregivers' perceptions concerning their level of knowledge about ASD and their needs to better adapt education and training programs. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted through a declarative and self-administered survey in France. Results: 1,013 individuals answered the questionnaire in 2020. If most caregivers felt they had sufficient knowledge about ASD, they still expressed a high level of needs regarding acquiring knowledge, identifying available resources, and finding social/emotional support. Conclusions: This study highlights the high level of needs of caregivers and their expectations of improving their knowledge and skills to help the person with ASD.

Introduction: The practice of meditation is gaining popularity among the general population and patients alike. Therapeutic Patient Education Programs (TPE) may provide a platform for offering meditation practices, although its current implementation remains unknown. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze meditative practices within TPE programs in a specific region, examining the conditions of their emergence. Methods: We conducted a quantitative retrospective descriptive survey using an online self-questionnaire among 530 TPE stakeholders (primarily program coordinators) in the Occitanie and PACA regions (France). Subsequently, 12 respondents were invited to participate in comprehensive phone interviews. Results: Of the 86 (16%) individuals who responded to the online questionnaire, 33 (between 6% of people surveyed and 38% of respondents) reported incorporating meditative practices into TPE. Among these, these practices were offered both in hospitals and community settings, targeting various conditions (primarily obesity), within the framework of TPE programs (67%) or outside of them (33%). Among the teams, 55% offered meditative practices within thematic workshops focused on topics such as managing food, stress, or pain; 36% conducted workshops dedicated to introducing meditation; and 9% provided a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) meditation program. The sessions were facilitated by an experienced TPE professional with meditation background but no formal training (58%), a team member trained in meditation facilitation (27%), or an external trained facilitator (21%). Professionals believed that this offering was clearly beneficial for the patients. Discussion: Regardless of the educational format, the inclusion of meditation in TPE programs can serve various educational intentions. Within a TPE program, the introduction of meditation serves as a means of raising awareness rather than training. Short training courses or academic programs in meditation for healthcare professionals could enable TPE practitioners to conduct meditation sessions. This article also presents recommendations regarding the skills that patients should acquire in this practice and points of caution in organizing meditation sessions. Conclusion: Although meditation is still relatively uncommon in TPE programs, it can be integrated into these programs and appears beneficial for both patients and healthcare providers. Further studies investigating the impact of this educational offering on patients are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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