Paramedic Practice and Neurodivergent-affirming Care: A Systematic Review
Tracks
Monarch - In Person Only
| Tuesday, August 12, 2025 |
| 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM |
| Monarch Room |
Overview
Charlton Quitoriano - Monash University
Speaker
Mr Charlton Quitoriano
Lecturer
Monash University
Paramedic practice and neurodivergent-affirming care: a systematic review
Presentation Overview
Three Key Learnings
1. Paramedics demonstrated poor autism recognition and engagement in simulated scenarios.
2. Training opportunities were varied and limited in duration, focussed on autism, and had minimal focus on practical strategies.
3. Higher comfort and knowledge levels correlate with advanced training or frequent professional/personal interactions with autistic individuals.
Background
Neurodivergent individuals experience higher rates of conditions requiring emergency medical care than the general population. These encounters can be inherently challenging for neurodivergent people due to communication, information processing, and sensory differences. Despite healthcare systems' growing focus on neurodivergent-affirming care, paramedics' preparedness to provide appropriate support remains largely unexplored.
Objectives
We aimed to systematically identify and synthesize literature related to paramedic practice when caring for neurodivergent patients.
Methods
A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We searched five databases (MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane) for peer-reviewed articles published in English from inception to May 28, 2024. The following search terms were used: (paramed* OR "emergency respon" OR "EMR" OR "EMT" OR "emergency medical technician") AND (autis OR ASD OR Asperg* OR "pervasive developmental disorder" OR "PDD" OR "PDD-NOS" OR "attention deficit" OR "ADHD" OR neurodevelopment OR neurodiverg*).
Results
Our search yielded N = 189 records. After removing duplicates, we screened 120 reports by title and abstract. Five studies met our inclusion criteria, all published between 2013 and 2021 in the USA. Notably, none of the included studies focussed on neurodivergent presentations other than autism.
Conclusions
Our review reveals significant gaps in paramedic preparedness to effectively support neurodivergent individuals. Current training initiatives appear insufficient in duration and depth. There is a clear need for more comprehensive training programs that improve comfort levels and practical strategies. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating evidence-based training protocols addressing the challenges of emergency care for neurodivergent individuals
1. Paramedics demonstrated poor autism recognition and engagement in simulated scenarios.
2. Training opportunities were varied and limited in duration, focussed on autism, and had minimal focus on practical strategies.
3. Higher comfort and knowledge levels correlate with advanced training or frequent professional/personal interactions with autistic individuals.
Background
Neurodivergent individuals experience higher rates of conditions requiring emergency medical care than the general population. These encounters can be inherently challenging for neurodivergent people due to communication, information processing, and sensory differences. Despite healthcare systems' growing focus on neurodivergent-affirming care, paramedics' preparedness to provide appropriate support remains largely unexplored.
Objectives
We aimed to systematically identify and synthesize literature related to paramedic practice when caring for neurodivergent patients.
Methods
A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We searched five databases (MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane) for peer-reviewed articles published in English from inception to May 28, 2024. The following search terms were used: (paramed* OR "emergency respon" OR "EMR" OR "EMT" OR "emergency medical technician") AND (autis OR ASD OR Asperg* OR "pervasive developmental disorder" OR "PDD" OR "PDD-NOS" OR "attention deficit" OR "ADHD" OR neurodevelopment OR neurodiverg*).
Results
Our search yielded N = 189 records. After removing duplicates, we screened 120 reports by title and abstract. Five studies met our inclusion criteria, all published between 2013 and 2021 in the USA. Notably, none of the included studies focussed on neurodivergent presentations other than autism.
Conclusions
Our review reveals significant gaps in paramedic preparedness to effectively support neurodivergent individuals. Current training initiatives appear insufficient in duration and depth. There is a clear need for more comprehensive training programs that improve comfort levels and practical strategies. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating evidence-based training protocols addressing the challenges of emergency care for neurodivergent individuals
Biography
Charlton is a Naarm/Melbourne-based academic at Monash University and registered paramedic at Ambulance Victoria. Initially a graphic designer, he now uses his academic, clinical and visual communication skills to collaborate with others including the Australian Paramedic Professional Capabilities Tool (APPCAT) and an upcoming Autistic Suicide Prevention Resource Hub with the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. Being queer, neurodivergent, and a person of colour, Charlton's professional interests lie within the wellbeing, neurodiverse, and LGBTIQA+ spaces in the paramedicine and higher education contexts.
