Training Medical Professionals to Work with Patients with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders are not always provided the quality of medical care they deserve. Medical personnel report limited preparation and education in caring for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.  The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the research on medical personnel training programs, identify effective training methods, and provide directions for future application and research. Thirty-four studies met inclusion criteria. The studies were summarized in terms of training components, the medical personnel trained, and the effectiveness of the training in achieving target outcomes.  Seventy-nine percent of studies demonstrated improvement in target outcomes. A variety of training components were used in combination throughout the studies, demonstrating a possibility of significant change to medical personnel's abilities for and attitudes about working with patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.  Further research is needed to determine specifically which types of training can affect which target outcomes.