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A systematic review of hospital experiences of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- IACONO Teresa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- BMC Health Services Research, 14(505), 2014, Online only
- Publisher:
- BioMed Central Ltd
Background: People with intellectual disability are at risk of poor hospital experiences and outcomes. The aims were to conducts a content and quality review of research into the acute hospital experiences of both people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, and to identify research gaps. Method: A systematic search was conducted of primary research between 2009 and 2013 that addressed the experiences of people with learning disabilities and their carers in general acute care hospitals. Quality appraisal tools yielded scores for quantitative and qualitative studies, and overarching themes across studies were sought. Results: Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria. Quality scores were 6/8 for a survey, and 2/11-9/11 (mean =5.25) for qualitative studies/components. Content analysis revealed seven over-arching themes covering individuals fear of hospital encounters, carer responsibilities, and problems with delivery of care in hospitals including staff knowledge, skills and attitudes. Conclusions: The review of eligible papers revealed that despite 20 years of research and government initiatives, people with intellectual disability continue to have poor hospital experiences. The need for research to identify and investigate care at specific points of encounter across a hospital journey (such as admission, diagnostic testing, placement on a ward, and discharge) as well as to include people with a diversity of disabilities is discussed in terms of potential to influence policy and practice across health and disability sectors. (Publisher abstract)
GP and support people's concerns and priorities for meeting the health care needs of individuals with developmental disabilities: a metropolitan and non-metropolitan comparison
- Authors:
- IACONO Teresa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(4), December 2003, pp.353-368.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
General practitioners (GPs) from the Australian state of Victoria and support people were surveyed about their concerns and priorities for meeting the health care needs of people with developmental disabilities. Despite the poor response rate (22% and 27%), sampling adequacy was obtained, and the tools were found to have construct validity. According to the results, GPs had concerns about the assessment and management of people with developmental disability and tended to rely on support people. They knew about many services in their communities, but were less likely to know about non-medical, and government and non-government disability services. Support people reported concerns about health care service providers' lack of knowledge, family stress during periods of hospitalisation, and, particularly for rural respondents, the need to travel to access services. There were relatively few differences in responses from metropolitan versus non-metropolitan respondents, which may be explained by the relative accessibility of Victorian rural towns when compared with other Australian states.