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Estimating how many deaths of people with learning disabilities in England could be prevented by better medical care
- Authors:
- GLOVER Gyles, EMERSON Eric
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 18(3), 2013, pp.146-149.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Using the findings of the Confidential Inquiry into Premature Deaths of People with Learning Disabilities, this article estimates the likely annual number of deaths of people with learning disabilities in England that would be amenable to healthcare, or both amenable and preventable. The Inquiry itself examined all deaths of people with learning disabilities aged four years old or older in an area comprising the former Avon metropolitan county and the remainder of the county of Gloucestershire over a two-year period. The study uses two scaling approaches, one based on age profiles of the population of the study area and of the country, the other on General Practice Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF) learning disability register statistics. National estimates of the annual number of deaths either amenable to healthcare or both amenable and preventable were 1,413 using the age-based scaling approach and 1,238 using the QOF-based approach. The two estimates are reasonably close, and represent about three and a half people a day or 25 a week. The likely accuracy of the estimates depends on how representative of the country the study area is. There are reasons for thinking that people with learning disability are, if anything, likely to be more accurately recognised and better treated there. Both influences would have the effect of reducing national estimates using the authors’ methods. This suggests they should be seen as a minimum. (Edited publisher abstract)
‘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)
‘I Feel Pain’– audit of communication skills and understanding of pain and health needs with people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- BEACROFT Monica, DODD Karen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(2), June 2011, pp.139-147.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
People with learning disabilities are known to find it harder than other people to access treatment for general health problems. A 4-part audit was conducted with people with learning disabilities to investigate pain recognition and management. This article describes the section of the audit which looked at what people with learning disabilities understood and experienced when they had pain compared to good practice from the literature. A total of 40 people with mild or moderate learning disabilities across Surrey participated in the study. The results show that the participants struggle to discuss pain effectively, and may describe it in terms of feelings or emotions. Little use is made of pain recognition tools or communication aids. The most common response to having pain is to be taken to the doctors, and many people were not offered pain medication by staff. Other alternative strategies were not used to manage pain. Although most people did not make the decision as to whether they needed to see their doctor, most people knew who their doctor was and reported good experiences in terms of information sharing once at the appointment. Information booklets and training are being developed to help staff and family carers recognise and manage pain in people with learning disabilities.
Using person centred thinking in continuing care
- Author:
- HELEN SANDERSON ASSOCIATES
- Publisher:
- Helen Sanderson Associates
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Stockport
This case study describes how person centred thinking tools are being used in Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to help managed the health care of people with learning disabilities in a more person-centred way. The tools used include one page profiles, decision making agreements, learning logs, communications charts and risk assessments.
Health inequalities and people with learning disabilities in the UK: 2010
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, BAINES Susannah
- Publisher:
- Improving Health and Lives: Learning Disabilities Observatory
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 20p.
- Place of publication:
- Stockton-on-Tees
Designed to assist primary, acute and specialist NHS trusts in fulfilling their responsibilities for meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities, this report summarises recent evidence from the UK on the health status of people with learning disabilities. It notes that people with learning disabilities have poorer health than their non-disabled peers and that the health inequalities they face start early in life, and draws attention to aspects of health where people with learning disabilities fare particularly poorly. It looks at inequalities in health status, summarising the available UK research literature on the health status and needs of children and adults with learning disabilities since 2002. It also discusses determinants of health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities, covering increased risk of exposure to social determinants of health, increased risk associated with specific genetic and biological causes of learning disabilities, communication difficulties and reduced health literacy, personal health risks and behaviours, and deficiencies in access to and quality of health care provision. The authors conclude by suggesting actions which can be taken to respond to the health inequalities identified.
Uncovering health care inequalities among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- WARD Rolanda L., NICHOLS Amanda D., FREEDMAN Ruth I.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 35(4), November 2010, pp.280-290.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Focus groups with parents/guardians, self-advocates, and community support professionals and key informant interviews with health care professionals were conducted to assess health disparities experienced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Findings indicate that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities face health care disparities and inequities in four areas: access, knowledge, communication, and quality. The need to increase availability of, and access to, primary care providers and other health professionals is highlighted.
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.
Are people with intellectual disabilities represented in European public health surveys?
- Authors:
- LINEHAN Christine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(5), September 2009, pp.409-420.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Evidence suggests that people with intellectual disabilities experience secondary health conditions and report inequities in health status and access to health systems. Reliable information is essential to identify health disparities. A review of health interview and health examination surveys conducted in 17 European countries was undertaken to determine whether people with intellectual disabilities were represented. One hundred and twenty three health surveys were examined to determine whether they contained questions relevant to the Pomona 18 indicator set, and whether data could be extracted specifically on behalf of respondents with intellectual disabilities. Findings reveal that while items relating to 16 of the Pomona 18 health indicators were found in 123 of the surveys scrutinized, only nine surveys were identified as having potential to extract data on respondents with intellectual disabilities.
Annual health checks: uptake in Wales and users' views
- Authors:
- PERRY Jonathan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 92, Summer 2009, pp.6-10.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
All adults with learning disabilities in Wales are entitled to annual health checks. This article reports on the outcome of a series of focus groups which were conducted with people with learning disabilities to find out their views about health checks. It also contains a table showing how many people in each local health board area of Wales had a health check in 2006/7 and 2007/8.
Health action planning and health facilitation for people with learning disabilities: good practice guide: easy read
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This easy read version describe and clarifies good practice in health facilitation and health action planning to reduce health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities. It includes ideas for improving health action plans and health facilitation.