Advanced nursing practice for caring for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder in the CACTO program.
Paulo Roberto Lima Falcão do Vale, Evany Caroline de Souza Cerqueira, Deisy Vital de Melo and 4 others
PMID 42525003WHAT IT FOUND
The study described 38 nursing competencies used to care for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder, from emotional support to coordinating services.
It maps what nurses did, not evidence that care works.
Key findings
01The study identified 38 nursing competencies across seven advanced practice domains.
02Nurses provided emotional support, guidance on interacting with children with ASD, integrative practices, and care agreements.
03Nurses coordinated care by discussing cases with multidisciplinary professionals and completing referral forms for the health care network.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was done in one non-governmental institute, so it may not apply to other settings. It analyzed documents created by the nurse, not independent outcome measures. It described competencies, not whether care worked, and included no comparison group. Only 39 mothers participated, and no exclusion criteria were defined. The findings are tied to Brazilian primary care and one nursing theory. The nurse who delivered care also developed the program, which may affect interpretation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 38 nursing competencies as evidence that this care improves mothers' health or reduces burden. The study describes documented practice in one program and does not test outcomes.