Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 28
Health checks in primary care for adults with intellectual disabilities: how extensive should they be?
- Authors:
- CHAUHAN U., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(6), June 2010, pp.479-486.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
General practitioners in the UK are being incentivised to carry out health checks under the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) as a way of detecting unmet need for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study looked at the key parameters recorded as part of the health check and compared any additional value with standard care provided through the current QOF framework. Twenty seven representative practices from four English primary care trusts (Haringey, Nottinghamshire, Oldham and Warwickshire) carried out health checks over a 6-month period. The data were divided into two domains for analysis: 'ID-specific' (visual assessment, hearing assessment, behaviour assessment, bladder function, bowel function and feeding assessment) and the financially incentivised QOF targets (blood pressure, smoking status, ethnicity, body mass index, urine analysis and carer details). A total of 651 ID patients were identified; only nine practices undertook a health check on 92 of their patients with ID during the pilot. Significant differences were found in the recorded information, between those who underwent a health check and those who did not. For those that had a health check, recorded information was on average higher for the 'QOF targets' compared with the 'ID-specific' domain, by 58.7%. The authors suggest that a more targeted approach focused in incentivising ID-specific health issues might be more appropriate than an extensive health check for improving care for people with ID.
‘Eye Know’: translating needs from annual health checks for people with learning disabilities to demand
- Author:
- CODLING Mary
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 41(1), 2013, pp.45-50.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Annual health checks for people with learning disabilities are a concept that was introduced by the Government in 2001 as a catalyst to improve access to health services and identify health needs that have previously gone undetected. Nonetheless, to date, there has been little evidence of the effectiveness of these health checks. This study begins by looking at the findings from the existing literature on the access people with learning disabilities have to optometrist services. It then investigates the factors that prevent people with learning disabilities in Wokingham from accessing optometrist services and eye tests through talking to people with learning disabilities from service users and advocacy groups. The outcome has shown that access by people with learning disabilities to opticians has increased with a number of people having problems identified and glasses prescribed. This study provides an understanding of how evidence of consistent unmet need identified from annual health checks directed innovative practice to improve outcomes that are of benefit to people with learning disabilities. Annual health checks play a crucial role for people with learning disabilities and can provide the foundation for services to further explore why some health needs continue to go unmet. (Edited publisher abstract)
The impact of repeated health checks for adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- FELCE David, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(6), November 2008, pp.585-596.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
An earlier study found that a structured health check conducted in primary care identified clinically significant previously unrecognized morbidity among adults with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to examine whether follow-up health checks would identify equally significant newly identified morbidity and to investigate this as a function of the interval between health checks. Adults with intellectual disabilities who had had an initial health check (n = 108) participated: group 1 (n = 39) had a repeat health check an average of 28 months later, group 2 (n = 36) had a repeat health check an average of 44 months later and group 3 (n = 33) did not have a subsequent health check. Thirty participants in group 1 had a second repeat health check an average of 14 months after the first repeat. An audit of the results of the health check established whether morbidity was newly identified. Information was collected on each participant's age, gender, place of residence, skills, challenging behaviour, social abilities, psychiatric status and perceived health. Comparisons within groups over time or between groups at a point in time were made using non-parametric statistics. A similar number of newly identified health problems were found at the repeat health check compared to the initial check. The nature of needs identified was also similar. There was no association between the number of new needs identified at the repeat health check and the interval between it and the initial check. The perceived health of participants receiving health checks tended to decline. As the level of new need revealed by repeated checks at even the shortest interval since the previous check studied here (mean = 14 months) was as high as that found by the initial check, annual health checking could be a justifiable intervention for this population. Decline in perceived health may represent more accurate assessment by carers following feedback from the health checks.
Closing the gap: important recommendations for primary care practitioners
- Authors:
- DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION, (Producer)
- Publisher:
- Disability Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- DVD
- Place of publication:
- London
From December 2006, the NHS – including Primary Care Trusts in England and Local Health Boards in Wales - will come under the Disability Equality Duty which places them under an obligation to ensure that their policies and practices do not discriminate, and do promote equal opportunities for disabled people. But a wide range of current practices, identified by the investigation, could clearly breach this duty. This DVD is for GPs and primary care staff on the investigation which highlights current experiences and gives practical advice on improving service provision.
The uptake of health checks for adults with learning disabilities in England: 2008/9-2011/12
- Authors:
- GLOVER Gyles, EMERSON Eric, EVISON Felicity
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 18(1), 2013, pp.45-49.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
People with learning disabilities generally have worse health than their non-disabled peers. This is in part a problem of identifying ill health in this group and gaining timely access to services. In 2006 the Disability Rights Commission recommended the introduction of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities in England as a reasonable adjustment in primary care to address these health inequalities. This paper reports on trends in the provision of health checks for adults with learning disabilities over the period 2008/9-2011/12. It is based on the analysis of data collected by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care from Primary Care Trusts in England. Over the four years the percentage of eligible adults receiving a health check has consistently increased and now stands at 53 percent. There remain marked variations across both Strategic Health Authority areas and Primary Care Trusts. The authors conclude that there is still some way to go before minimum standards of satisfactory performance in the provision of health checks are achieved nationally. They point to the necessity of considering possible obstacles to provision and how these can be addressed to improve uptake further.
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.
The impact of checking the health of adults with intellectual disabilities on primary care consultation rates, health promotion and contact with specialists
- Authors:
- FELCE David, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(6), November 2008, pp.597-602.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Studies have found that health checking in primary care led to the identification of previously unrecognized morbidity among adults with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to evaluate whether health checking stimulated increased consultation with the general practitioner or another member of the primary care team, increased health promotion actions undertaken outside the health check or increased contact with specialists. Data on the above three categories of activity were abstracted from the medical records of 77 adult participants with intellectual disabilities for eight 6-month periods before and seven 6 month periods after they had undergone a health check. Comparisons of access to care before and after the health check were made using non-parametric statistics. On average, participants had 5.4 and 1.8 primary care and specialist consultations per year respectively. There were no significant differences in either rate before and after the health check. The frequency of health promotion actions increased significantly after the health check from a mean of 1.2 to 2.2/year. Comparison of the primary care and specialist consultations rates of people with intellectual disabilities with those for the general population might suggest that the former have greater access to these services. However, comparison to the general practitioner consultation rates of patients with other chronic conditions would seem to indicate that contact with primary care may not be commensurate with need. Attention to health promotion is inadequate.
Prescription for change: a Mencap report on the role of GP's and carers in the provision of primary care for people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- SINGH Peter
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 51p.,tables,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
People with learning difficulties are more prone to certain medical conditions that the rest of the population. This report examines the views, attitudes and experiences of people with learning difficulties, GPs and carers and looks at the role of GPs in the provision of primary care. Also explores the role played by carers.
Specialist services for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- MEEHAN Sue, MOORE Gordon, BARR Owen
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 29.3.95, 1995, pp.33-35.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Reports on the results of health screening clinics for people with learning disabilities.