Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 8 of 8
Making a difference. Visual health needs of people with a learning disability
- Authors:
- MCGLADE Anne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(3), September 2010, pp.187-193.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article discusses the findings from a study to assess the impact of corrective eye treatment in adults with a learning disability. The service was delivered by the Special Visual Assessment Clinic (SVAC) an optometry led, multi professional out-reach service delivered in a Resource Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was designed to provide high quality optometric services to people with learning disability and to improve the uptake of visual assessments amongst this group of the population. The study, which included user and carer input in its design, involved 15 people with a learning disability, 21 of their family carers, and 12 members of staff in interviews, group discussions, completion of checklists and clinical audit. The findings revealed that prior to the SVAC taking place there was limited awareness of vision related problems amongst all these groups. Following assessment and corrective treatment which, in the main included the provision of glasses, there was a heightened awareness of visual needs and of the benefits of eye examinations which included some tentative links to quality of life.
Clinical guidelines and integrated care pathways for the oral health care of people with learning disabilities 2001
- Authors:
- THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND. Faculty of Dental Surgery, et al
- Publisher:
- The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Faculty of Dental Surgery
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 56p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Evidence confirms that people with learning disabilities’ uptake of screening services is lower and that they have poor oral health when compared to the general population. Good oral health is linked to good general health and a number of systemic diseases have oral manifestations. Improvements in oral health care can be obtained by encouraging carers to regularly examine the mouth of the person they are caring for. Completing an oral assessment will help to identify any changes in the mouth. This can aid diagnosis and treatment if reported to the dentist at an early stage. vThe guidelines are based on published evidence and follow the format of other clinical guidelines developed by the Faculty of Dental Surgery The Royal College of Surgeons of England and those from the British Society of Disability and Oral Health. Information was gathered from consultation groups of people with mild to moderate learning disabilities. Postal questionnaires were also used.
Better health and care for all: health and care services for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- NIHR DISSEMINATION CENTRE, WALLACE Louise M., CLARKE-HARRIS Rebecca, LAMONT Tara
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 53
- Place of publication:
- London
This thematic research review brings together NIHR-funded research on health and social care services for people with learning disabilities and their families. It features 23 recent studies and includes summaries of findings. The review covers the themes: understanding learning disability and services; identifying health risks; keeping well in the community; staying well and safe in hospital and preventing avoidable deaths; services supporting positive behaviour; and conducting research together. It also highlights studies that show examples of good practice in involving people with lived experience of learning disabilities in doing research. It also includes the views of people with lived experience around the issues covered by the research. The research finds that more work is needed to improve care for people with learning disabilities, who experience poorer health and die earlier than the general population. Many of these deaths could be prevented by public health interventions or better access to high quality care. It includes important findings for those who commission, deliver, work in and use these services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Stay well and healthy!: pilot study findings from an inhome preventive healthcare programme for persons ageing with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- ARONOW Harriet Udin, HAHN Joan Earle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(2), June 2005, pp.163-173.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of two in-home interventions designed to reduce health risks and improve health outcomes among persons ageing with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Two hundred and one adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, aged 32 and over living in non-institutional settings were recruited and assigned to either an advance practice nurse (APN) intervention of in-home multidimensional assessment, targeted recommendations and follow-up visits (n = 101) or an inhome health risk appraisal (HRA) with printed feedback only (n = 100). The development and pilot testing of the interventions, assessment tools and methods demonstrated feasibility in the population from mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition, high levels of health risks were identified in the sample suggesting the need for effective interventions. Both pilot groups showed significant reduction in health risks between baseline and follow-up. Further rigorous randomized field trials are required to test the effectiveness of each intervention. The authors conclude that community-based preventive interventions are feasible for randomized trials in this population.
Women be healthy: evaluation of a women's health curriculum for women with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- LUNSKY Yona, STRAIKO Amy, ARMSTRONG Sharon
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(4), December 2003, pp.247-253.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Insufficient attention has been paid towards treating the unique health needs of women with intellectual disabilities. This paper describes an 8-week curriculum, 'Women Be Healthy', developed for women with intellectual disabilities to help them become more equal partners in their health care. The curriculum includes psycho-education, coping skills training, exposure to the medical setting and assertiveness training. Twenty-two women completed assessments of health knowledge, health behaviour beliefs and coping strategies, prior to and following participation in the 8-week curriculum, which took place in a group setting at a clinic for people with intellectual disabilities. Women showed significant improvements in health knowledge, health behaviour beliefs and coping strategies following intervention, and maintained some of these treatment gains (health knowledge and health behaviour beliefs) at a 10-week follow-up. 'Women Be Healthy' is an example of a group-based intervention that helps women with intellectual disabilities become more knowledgeable and perhaps more comfortable with health-care procedures.
Annual health reviews for patients with severe learning disabilities: five years of a combined GP/CLDN clinic
- Author:
- MARTIN Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities, 7(1), March 2003, pp.9-21.
- Publisher:
- Sage
From 1997 to 2001 inclusive, annual health checks were offered to patients on the learning disabilities register of a general practice with a total of 14,410 patients. An average of 56 patients were invited each year and the attendance rate was 77.5 percent. The structured health check was administered by the community learning disability team (CLDT) nurse and general practitioner (GP) working together. The intervention rate was 1.56 per patient per year. This included referrals within the CLDT and to other professionals. Over half of all interventions (0.84 per patient per annum) were actioned within primary care. These included lifestyle advice leading to monitoring of obesity; ear and eye checks leading to referral or treatment; review of associated locomotor, hormone, skin, digestive system and CNS conditions resulting in medication changes; and blood tests. The health check highlighted continuing treatable conditions which otherwise might not have received attention.
Physical health of adults with intellectual disabilities
- Editors:
- PRASHER Vee, JANICKI Matthew
- Publisher:
- Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 286p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
In common with the rest of the population, people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing increased longevity. Evidence suggests that mental health disorders may occur in up to half of all persons with intellectual disability and that these disorders accelerate significantly with age. Part one: prevalence and diagnosis; part two: treatments and interventions.
Health gain through screening - mental health: developing primary health care services for people with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- ROY A., MARTIN D. M., WELLS M. B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 22(4), December 1997, pp.227-239.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Referrals to mental health services are highly variable and depend on local factors such as availability of psychiatric and community nursing services, general practitioners' awareness of mental health problems in people with an intellectual disability, and knowledge and attitudes of professional and family carers. This article describes a study which aims to identify individuals with significant mental health problems who were not receiving services. Difficulties encountered in targeting services.