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Nurses' attitudes and emotions toward caring for adults with intellectual disabilities: results of a cross‐sectional, correlational‐predictive research study
- Authors:
- DESROCHES Melissa L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(6), 2019, pp.1501-1513.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Negative healthcare provider attitudes may contribute to healthcare disparities in adults with intellectual disabilities. This study identified predictors of nurses' attitudes and emotions toward caring for adults with intellectual disabilities in the United States. Method: A convenience sample of 248 nurses was used to collect nurses' attitudes and emotions toward caring for adults with intellectual disabilities (Adapted Caring for Adults with Disabilities Questionnaire) and quality of life beliefs (Prognostic Beliefs Scale). Results: Overall, nurses held less positive attitudes toward caring for an adult with intellectual disability versus a physical disability. Intellectual disability nurses held more positive attitudes and emotions and less negative emotions than non‐intellectual disability nurses. Quality of life beliefs predicted nurse attitude, positive emotions and negative emotions. The number of adults with intellectual disabilities cared for during the nurse's career predicted negative emotions. Conclusions: Future interventions should focus on improving nurses' understanding of the quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities. (Publisher abstract)
Attitudes and self-efficacy towards adults with mild intellectual disability among staff in acute psychiatric wards: an empirical investigation
- Authors:
- MESA Sue, TSAKANIKOS Elias
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 8(2), 2014, pp.79-90.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether acute inpatient psychiatric staffs’ attitudes and self-efficacy towards adults with mild intellectual disability, were different than towards the general mental health population. And whether their understanding of the policy for those with mental illness and intellectual disability differed. Design/methodology/approach: The study is a between-subject design, using a self-administered postal questionnaire. The sample was all qualified staff from the acute inpatient psychiatric provision of an inner London borough. Potential participants were randomly assigned to two research groups, half being given a questionnaire regarding people with intellectual disability and the other half an identical one regarding people with mental illness. Comparisons were made between the two. Findings: The majority of staff were unaware of the current policy direction for adults with intellectual disability although were on the whole in agreement to the idea that they should access mainstream services. Staff overall did not have more negative attitudes to those with intellectual disability although were less likely to empower or encourage self-advocacy. Staff were significantly less confident that they had sufficient training and experience, and in their perceived ability to be able to communicate, assess and treat adults with mild intellectual disability when compared to those with mental illness. Research limitations/implications: The response rate and small sample size is a limitation. Further research could usefully look at whether self-efficacy and attitudes differ in different models of mainstream psychiatric care. Originality/value: Government policy in the UK regarding services for people with intellectual disability advocates for inclusion and equality (Chaplin and Taggart, 2012). Those requiring psychiatric care should access this from mainstream services (Department of Health, 2001, 2009, 2011; Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities et al., 2004; Bradley, 2009.) There are, however, no UK-based studies investigating the views of mainstream acute inpatient psychiatric staff towards their role. Intellectual disability staff have concerns about their attitudes and self-efficacy and it is know that acute care is the setting where most adults with intellectual disability will come across mainstream psychiatric staff. Findings have relevance to managers and staff in both intellectual disability and psychiatric services and could be considered in the context of trying to work together as is the direction of policy. (Edited publisher abstract)
Staff perspectives of substance use and misuse among adults with intellectual disabilities enrolled in Dutch disability services
- Authors:
- VANDERNAGEL Joanneke, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 8(3), September 2011, pp.143-149.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The rates of substance misuse among adults with intellectual disability (ID) are unknown in the Netherlands. It is also unclear how ID services deal with substance-related problems. This study investigated the views of staff with respect to the occurrence of substance use and abuse and service organisation policies regarding substance use. A questionnaire asked staff from 39 ID services to comment on substance use among their clients and describe policies within their service regarding substance-related problems. Estimations of occurrence of substance use varied greatly across services. Alcohol was reported to be used most often but at lower rates than reported in the general population. Cannabis and other drugs were reported to be used relatively often when compared to the general population. Of the interventions the services reported using, restrictive measures were rated as most effective and collaboration with addiction facilities and rewarding abstinence as least effective. The authors concluded that the low effectiveness of mainstream addiction treatment or consultation suggests that there was a need for cross-system collaboration to address the problem.
Making sense of varying standards of care: the experiences of staff working in residential care environments for adults with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- HUTCHINSON Andrew, KROESE Biza Stenfert
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(3), 2016, p.182–193.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Research evidence reveals that adults with learning disabilities who live in residential care facilities are being exposed to considerable variation in the standards of care they receive. High profile cases of substandard care have also raised concerns regarding the appropriateness of existing care provisions and practices. While attempts have been made to understand variations in care standards, there remains a need for more research in this area. Additionally, little attention has been paid to understanding support staff experiences of working in residential services and to developing a more theoretical understanding of the role they fulfil. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study aimed to examine front-line staff members' experiences of working in residential care for people with learning disabilities. Six experienced front-line care workers (four female, two male) took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed according to the principles of IPA, and three superordinate themes were identified as being central to participants' experiences of their work roles: Degree of Positive Relationship Reciprocity; Value Congruence and Intrinsic Motivation; and Experiences of Environmental and Organisational Constraints. Results are discussed in relation to the existing literature on care standards and the factors associated with abusive or neglectful practices, and in terms of their contribution to theory and applied practice. (Publisher abstract)
‘Some people are not allowed to love’: intimate citizenship in the lives of people labelled with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- IGNAGNI Esther, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 31(1), 2016, pp.131-135.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Disability helps us think differently about the ‘ideal’ neoliberal-able citizen who may not equate to ideas of productive, sexual, ‘normal’. Intimate citizenship – our rights and access to intimacy – is often ignored by those working with people labelled with intellectual disabilities and in research. In this article, the authors discuss the outcome of a dialogue between self-advocates labelled with intellectual disabilities, academics, service providers, Aboriginal leaders, students and artists about intimate citizenship through love, intimate work and consumption. (Edited publisher abstract)
'I never thought I would have to do this’: narrative study with siblings-in-law who live together with a family member with a disability
- Authors:
- VANHOUTTEGHEM Inge, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42(4), 2014, pp.315-322.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Using narrative research, the authors have aimed to gain an insight into the perspectives of 14 siblings-in-law (living in the Flemish part of Belgium) about the decision to live together with a family member who has a learning disability. The decision to live together usually begins with a crisis. However, the decision process is a complex mechanism; it involves dynamics and events within a family (between family members both with and without blood relationships) and is intensified by experiences within a society that holds different views about families and disability. To develop a deeper understanding of this complex process the article considers interpretations based on the contextual framework of Boszormenyi-Nagy. (Edited publisher abstract)
Staff expectations and views of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- KROESE Biza Stenfert, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(2), 2014, pp.145-153.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The role of support workers and other professionals in the psychotherapeutic process has been commented upon but not as yet been systematically investigated. Method: To explore their views and expectations of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for adults with intellectual disabilities, eleven paid support workers and professionals were recruited and interviewed before the CBT sessions commenced for their service users and nine took part in the second interview that took place after nine sessions. Results: Thematic Analysis of the interview transcripts indicates that staff members do not perceive CBT as a long-term solution for psychological problems have little knowledge of CBT and do not feel included in the process. Nevertheless, after nine sessions, most participants reported improved psychological well-being for their service users and expressed a wish for longer-term involvement of the therapist. Conclusions: The results suggest that for CBT to be effective in the longer term, the therapist is required to consider a wider systemic approach including staff training and supervision, staff and management consultancy and creating a delicate balance between confidentiality and sharing the psychological formulation with ‘significant others’ to ensure maintenance and generalisation of improved psychological well-being. (Publisher abstract)
Helpful words
- Author:
- DALY Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 23.8.01, 2001, p.20.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Reports on how adults with dyslexia often go to great lengths to hide their inability to read and write and can slip through the net partly due to the fact that they are wrongly thought of as unintelligent.
Response patterns on the questionnaire on attitudes consistent with sexual offending in groups of sex offenders with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 19(1), March 2006, pp.47-53.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This report employs a recently developed assessment on attitudes consistent with sexual offending [Questionnaire on Attitudes Consistent with Sexual Offences (QACSO)] to compare different groups of sex offenders with intellectual disability. Two studies are reported each from a different region and each conducted by different individuals. Study 1 compared 12 sex offenders against adults with 12 offenders against children. The six-scale version of the QACSO was administered including rape and attitudes to women, voyeurism, exhibitionism, dating abuse, homosexual assault and offences against children. Study 2 employed three groups of 10 participants each: offenders against adults, exhibitionists and offenders against children. The seven scale version of the QACSO (stalking added) was used. All questionnaires were administered individually. In both studies, the offenders against adults reported higher levels of attitudes consistent with sexual offending in the area of rape and attitudes to women with medium to large effect sizes and a significant difference in study 1. In both studies, offenders against children reported significantly higher levels of cognitive distortions (large effect sizes) in the area of offences against children. Both differences were in the predicted direction and there were no other significant differences on other sections. In general, all three groups reported higher levels of cognitive distortions than non-offenders. There would appear to be some specificity particularly for the rape and attitudes to women scale, and the offenders against children scale. The same specificity does not emerge from other scales of the QACSO. The study also lends support to the inclusion of techniques which explore and challenge attitudes consistent with offending both generally and in relation to specific offences.
CFT & people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HARDIMAN Mark, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 12(1), 2018, pp.44-56.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of compassion-focussed therapy (CFT) on anxiety in a small sample of adults with intellectual disability. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods design was employed. Participants (n=3) completed questionnaire measures of anxiety and self-compassion on three occasions: pre-intervention, post-intervention and, at three months follow-up. Post-intervention, they also took part in recorded interviews that were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings were then synthesised to develop a comprehensive understanding of their overall experience. Findings: Final data synthesis revealed five themes: participant anxiety decreased (reliable for all participants); the faulty self; improved positive compassionate attitudes; increased sense of common humanity; and mindful distraction techniques. Research limitations/implications: This research paper offers in-depth analysis of three participants’ experiences rather than reporting in less detail about a larger number of participants. The self-compassion scale required considerable support and reasonable adaptation to be used with these clients. Originality/value: Only two other studies have explored the use of CFT with people with intellectual disabilities. (Publisher abstract)