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Effective communication training interventions for paid carers supporting adults with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- KYLE Seonaid, MELVILLE Craig A., JONES Andrea
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(3), September 2010, pp.210-216.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Carer communication skills contribute to the well being of individuals with learning disabilities. In order to meet the health needs of adults with learning disabilities, the provision of communication skills training for carers and professionals is important. This study developed and investigated the psychometric properties of a communication self-efficacy measure, the Glasgow-Communication Efficacy Scale (G-CES), for use with carers and professionals attending communication training interventions relevant to working with individuals with learning disabilities. The research team developed the G-CES based on their experience of delivering communication training, and working with adults with learning disabilities in clinical settings. The G-CES is designed as a self-report measure which measures self-efficacy across key areas of communication. A pre-post intervention study design was used to examine the reliability and sensitivity to change of the G-CES. Twenty-six paid carers who support adults with learning disabilities completed the G-CES before and after participating in a communication training intervention. The results showed that the scale had good internal and test-retest reliability. Carer communication efficacy increased after taking part in the training. Use of the G-CES in clinical services and research studies can help to develop the evidence base on the effectiveness of communication training interventions relevant to working with persons with learning disabilities.
Carer knowledge and perception of healthy lifestyles for adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MELVILLE Craig A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(3), May 2009, pp.298-306.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Carers can have a significant impact supporting people with intellectual disabilities to make healthy lifestyle choices. This study examines carers' training needs on diet and physical activity. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of the knowledge and perceptions of carers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to examine carer knowledge of public health recommendations on diet and physical activity; perceptions of the benefits of healthy diets and physical activity levels; and the carer views on the barriers to change experienced by individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sixty-three carers took part in the study. They generally had a low level of knowledge around public health recommendations on diet and physical activity. Greater importance was attributed to the health benefits of diet than physical activity. Carers rated intrapersonal barriers to change within the person with intellectual disabilities as more important, than interpersonal or external barriers to change, with significant differences in perceived barriers relevant to diet and physical activity. Carers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities have significant training needs relevant to promoting healthy lifestyles. This highlights the opportunity to promote health improvement via the development, and provision, of effective training initiatives.