Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental range of conditions that involves difficulties with social interaction and restricted/repetitive behaviors. Unfortunately, health care providers often experience difficulties in diagnosis and management of individuals with ASD, and may have no knowledge about possible ways to overcome barriers in ASD patient interactions in healthcare settings. At the same time, the provision of appropriate medical services can have positive effects on habilitative progress, functional outcome, life expectancy and quality of life for individuals with ASD. Methods This online survey research study evaluated the awareness and experience of students/residents (n = 247) and physicians (n = 100) in the medical management of children with ASD. It also gathered the views and experiences of caregivers to children with ASD (n = 158), all based in Russia. Results We have established that the Russian medical community has limited ASD knowledge among providers, and have suggested possible reasons for this. Based on results from online surveys completed by students/residents, non-psychiatric physicians, and caregivers of children diagnosed with ASD, the main problems pertaining to medical management of individuals with ASD were identified. Possible problem solving solutions within medical practice were proposed. Conclusions The results from this study should be considered when implementing measures to improve healthcare practices, and when developing models for effective medical management, due to start not only in Russia but also in a number of other countries.

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In the epoch of exponential development of civilization, social interaction becomes more and more dense and the range of representations and regulations of life is expending, and, accordingly, the probability of conflict in society increases. The research of a problem of social interaction is insufficiently provided and remains urgent in the scientific world. The author (together with R.G. Khalitov and I.M. Yusupov) developed the concept of psychosocial dissonance (notion and model) which was the base for a research of social interaction, and the probabilistic model of psychosocial dissonance became a basis for mathematical (formulas and numbers) determination and modeling of social interaction. Post-nonclassical science, within which the author conducts the researches, studies complex self-developing systems, natural complexes that include the human being, with the expansion of the scope of concepts of scientific methodology and scientific approach to the human being. To understand the facilitation of social interaction in the presence of an observer, the "anthropological principle" is used, which establishes a link between the existence of a person (as an observer) and the physical parameters of the world. On the basis of theoretical researches the concept is introduced and the effect of facilitation of social interaction is shown. The description of the mechanism of facilitation of social interaction on the basis of the model of psychosocial dissonance and level model of psychosocial phenomena is offered. Empirical researches are carried out and regularities of social interaction facilitation are shown and the method of definition of (numerical) influence of the facilitator on social interaction is offered. The model of social interaction facilitation can become the basis for further psychological research and provides an opportunity to apply the results for use in psychological practices, as well as in the training of competent professional facilitators.

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The increase in the number of children with autism spectrum disorders has exacerbated the problem of improving (facilitating) social interaction skills in preschoolers. This category of children is characterized by a combination of qualitative disorders, where one of the main manifestations is difficulties in verbal and social behavior. The aim is to study the dynamics of the development of social interaction skills in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders, depending on gender and age, to identify points of facilitation, to give recommendations. On the basis of ontological and behavioral approaches, theoretical methods of analysis of philosophical, psychological and pedagogical literature are used, among the empirical methods are the Sundberg method VB-MAPP (2008), observations, qualitative analysis, Student's T-criterion. A longitudinal study (2018-2022) of 54 preschoolers with ASD from different kindergartens in Kazan is presented. The dynamics of the development of skills of children with ASD in longitudinal study is minimal, contradictory, depends not on age, but on the complexity of the defect.