Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Experience, and Training in Caring for Autistic Adults: A Systematic review

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Rigney, F., Kinsella, S., Moylan, M., Dooly, Z., Doherty, M., Rinehart, N., & Gooney, M. (2026). Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Experience, and Training in Caring for Autistic Adults: A Systematic review. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 5(1), 53-72. https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.5.1.224

Publication date: 17 May 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 7 (28.6%)
  1. Fiona Rigney *
  2. Sharon Kinsella
  3. Mary Moylan
  4. Zeta Dooly
  1. Mary Doherty *
  2. Nicole Rinehart
  3. Martina Gooney

Abstract

Introduction: Autistic adults experience high rates of co-occurring physical and mental health conditions and often face unmet needs in all healthcare settings due to communication differences, sensory sensitivities, and atypical presentations. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a central role in addressing these needs; however, evidence suggests there are significant gaps in autism-specific knowledge and training. Aim: Examine HCPs knowledge, experience, and training related to caring for autistic adults. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were retrieved from five databases (Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline and Web of Science). Nineteen studies were included in the final analysis. Results: Findings across studies indicated that HCPs possess limited and inconsistent autism-specific knowledge, and have common deficits, with notable gaps in communication, recognition of autistic adults, and management of sensory and co-occurring health needs. Clinical experience caring for autistic adults was variable and often limited. Autism-specific training was inconsistent and typically brief, with between one-third and three-quarters of HCPs reporting unmet training needs. Conclusion: This review highlighted substantial gaps in HCPs’ autism-specific knowledge, training, and experience, contributing to barriers in healthcare for autistic adults Findings highlight a clear need for standardised, evidence-based autism education across undergraduate training and continuing professional development. Future work is needed to establish coherent structured curricula with the meaningful involvement of autistic adults in the design and delivery of training and education to support person-centred healthcare.

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
38
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
4 / 38 (10.5%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
11 / 308 (3.6%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 11 / 66 (16.7%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 7 / 289 (2.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
66 / 308 (21.4%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 50 / 289 (17.3%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
55 / 66 (83.3%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 55 / 308 (17.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 43 / 50 (86.0%).
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