Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Cancer screening for people with learning disabilities and the role of the screening liaison nurse
- Authors:
- MARRIOTT Anna, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(4), 2015, pp.239-246.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper describes the role of the screening liaison nurses for adults with learning disabilities employed by Peninsula Community Health. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reports on the national situation in regard to cancer screening for people with learning disabilities and explores the barriers which limit their participation in these screening programmes. It describes the screening liaison nurse role and presents case examples of the work they do. Findings: The local screening rates for people with learning disabilities have increased since the creation of this role in 2011. (Edited publisher abstract)
The impact of health checks for people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review of evidence
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55(11), November 2011, pp.1009-1019.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have poorer health than their non-disabled peers, partly because of barriers associated with identifying ill health and ensuring timely access to healthcare services. The implementation of health checks for people with ID have been recommended internationally as one component of health policy responses to the poorer health of people with ID. The aim of this review is to summarise evidence on the impact of health checks on the health and well-being of people with ID. Searches of electronic literature databases and email contacts were used to identify relevant peer reviewed articles published from 1989 onwards in the English language. A total of 38 publications were identified. In total, the articles described the health checks of over 5000 people with ID from a range of countries. The samples covered a full range of ages, severity of ID, and living situations. Health checks consistently led to detection of unmet health needs and targeted actions to address health needs. The review concludes that health checks are effective in identifying previously unrecognised health needs, including life-threatening conditions.
Health checks for people with learning disabilities: a systematic review of evidence
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, ROBERTS Hazel, EMERSON Eric
- Publisher:
- Improving Health and Lives: Learning Disabilities Observatory
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 55p.
- Place of publication:
- Stockton-on-Tees
A total of 38 peer reviewed articles published in English between 1989 and 2010 were included in this systematic review. Most were based on studies conducted in the United Kingdom. The majority of the studies looked at the outcome of a single health check; only three publications were based on randomized controlled trials. The content of the health checks varied widely and they were conducted in a variety of settings. It was common for the health check to be carried out by a general practitioner. The results of the studies indicated that introduction of health checks for people with learning disabilities typically leads to the detection of unmet, unrecognised and potentially treatable health conditions (including serious and life threatening conditions such as cancer, heart disease and dementia); and targeted actions to address health needs. Few studies investigated the extent to which the provision of health checks leads to short, medium or long term changes in health status and the authors emphasise the importance of this provision. The authors conclude that, given the specific difficulties faced by people with learning disabilities targeted health checks should be considered to constitute an effective and important adjustment to the operation of primary health care services in the UK. Areas for future research are outlined.
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.
A practice and policy agenda for HIV and learning difficulties
- Author:
- CAMBRIDGE Paul
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 22(4), December 1994, pp.134-139.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Reviews how issues around HIV and learning difficulties come together to present a challenge for health promotion/HIV prevention and services for people with learning difficulties. The review also identifies key practice issues which services for people with learning difficulties need to address in relation to HIV and offers a model for developing policy and resources for carrying forward work in this area.