Background: Autism spectrum disorder is increasingly prevalent in Australia. Its complexity can make assessment and management challenging, so paramedics need to be well prepared to deliver appropriate care. Aim: The aim of this review is to understand what information exists that contributes to paramedics assessing and managing this population group in out-of-hospital settings. Methods: Six databases were searched. Articles were screened by title and abstract, duplicates were removed and full-text screening to determine eligible articles was undertaken. An iterative thematic analysis informed by Braun and Clarke was undertaken to identify key themes. Findings: Nine articles were included in the study. Three themes emerged: lack of knowledge, awareness and skill; communication challenges; education and improving patient care. Conclusion: Limited education and training resources are available to paramedics regarding patients with autism spectrum disorder, indicating that there is a gap in the literature.
Pincini et al. (Tue,) studied this question.