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A Pilot of Interventions to Improve Health Care in Adolescents with Intellectual Disability
Author(s) -
Lennox Nicholas G.,
ReyConde Therese F.,
Faint Sonya L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2007.00417.x
Subject(s) - intellectual disability , health care , psychology , psychological intervention , ask price , medicine , nursing , medical education , psychiatry , economy , economics , economic growth
Background People with intellectual disability often have poor health which may be improved through better health advocacy and enhanced communication with their general practitioner. To this end, we examined the use of the Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) and the Ask health diary previously developed for adults with intellectual disability and trialled their use in adolescents attending a Special School. Materials and methods A CHAP health review completed by both carers and General Practitioners was used to collect information about adolescents’ health. An Ask health diary was used in school to learn health advocacy and communication skills. Thirty students, their parents and their eight teachers participated in the trial. Results The CHAP health review resulted in a mean of 5.2 health conditions being found, and 1.4 planned actions by the general practitioner per adolescent. The Ask health diary was highly accepted by the students and teachers. There did not appear to be any increase in communication skills of the students after using the diary in the school for one term. Conclusion The CHAP health review and Ask health diary have the potential to improve the health of adolescents with intellectual disability.