title: Training on intellectual disability in health sciences: the European perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intellectual disability (ID) has consequences at all stages of life, requires high service provision and leads to high health and societal costs. However, ID is largely disregarded as a health issue by national and international organisations, as are training in ID and in the health aspects of ID at every level of the education system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to (1) update the current information about availability of training and education in ID and related health issues in Europe with a particular focus in mental health; and (2) to identify opportunities arising from the initial process of educational harmonization in Europe to include ID contents in health sciences curricula and professional training.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a systematic search of scientific databases and websites, as well as policy and research reports from the European Commission, European Council and WHO. Furthermore, we contacted key international organisations related to health education and/or ID in Europe, as well as other regional institutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ID modules and contents are minimal in the revised health sciences curricula and publications on ID training in Europe are equally scarce. European countries report few undergraduate and graduate training modules in ID, even in key specialties such as paediatrics. Within the health sector, ID programmes focus mainly on psychiatry and psychology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The poor availability of ID training in health sciences is a matter of concern. However, the current European policy on training provides an opportunity to promote ID in the curricula of programmes at all levels. This strategy should address all professionals working in ID and it should increase the focus on ID relative to other developmental disorders at all stages of life.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salvador-Carulla
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disorders Research Unit (UNIVIDD), Fundació Villablanca, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, CIBERSAM, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez-Leal
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heyler
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Policy, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Galvez
authors.affiliation: Organisation for Patient Involvement and Active Citizenship, Sittard, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marja Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Veenstra
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disorders Research Unit (UNIVIDD), Fundació Villablanca, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, CIBERSAM, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Ibáñez
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ricerca ed Evoluzione AMG (CREA), Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.affiliation: Developmental Medicine Center, The Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kerim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munir
authors.affiliation: Centre for Developmental Health Victoria, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torr
authors.affiliation: Department for Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henny M J
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk
keywords: Europe; health education; health training; intellectual disability; mental health