Change in Care Staff's Attitudes Towards People with Learning Disabilities Following Intervention at the Leros PIKPA Asylum

Abstract

The pilot intervention project at Leros PIKPA asylum sought to change the management of residents by decreasing care staff's tendency to view people with learning disabilities with attitudes of custodial segregation (e.g. “they should all live in institutions”) and categorisation (e.g. “they are all alike”). To that end, staff were trained on the job in resident management and participated in seminars, sensitisation groups, clinical case presentations and visits to model rehabilitation units. To investigate whether staff attitudes towards people with learning disabilities had been influenced, staff members responded to a questionnaire of such attitudes, in March 1991 (initial assessment) and a year later (reassessment). Factor analyses of attitude ratings at initial assessment revealed a strong negative attitudinal construct, “Rejective and custodial segregation – Categorisation”, according to which institutionalisation was the only appropriate type of care for people with learning disabilities, regardless of individual differences. At reassessment, however, this factor had split into two independent ones, “Rejective and custodial segregation” and “Categorisation”, suggesting that the staff had understood that custodial care did not apply to all persons with learning disabilities indiscriminately. Reassessment factors further indicated that staff had comprehended the appropriateness of alternative care forms – community and home care. Analysis of Categorisation and Custodial segregation attitude ratings showed that only staff's tendency to view the disabled as “all alike” (Categorisation) had decreased at reassessment. The latter change and the structural change revealed by the factor analyses imply that staff's attitudes underwent a small but significant modification.

Stigma research in the field of intellectual disabilities: a scoping review on the perspective of care providers

“…Besides the relatively positive finding of non-stereotypical perceptions in this study from the UK, other studies indicated the presence of stereotypical views of people with ID. For example, Kordoutis et al (1995) described clear stereotyping and segregation attitudes in a very specific situation in the Leros asylum in Greece. In that situation, a three-year deinstitutionalization and rehabilitation pilot-intervention project was implemented due to the appalling conditions at the asylum: residents suffered severe deprivation, extreme institutionalization, and violation of basic human rights (see, Tsiantis et al 2000).…”

“…In that situation, a three-year deinstitutionalization and rehabilitation pilot-intervention project was implemented due to the appalling conditions at the asylum: residents suffered severe deprivation, extreme institutionalization, and violation of basic human rights (see, Tsiantis et al 2000). In those deprived situations, people with ID were, for example, viewed as "unhappy," and as if "they cannot manage even their simplest needs" (Kordoutis et al 1995). Moreover, when focusing on particular stereotypes regarding "people with ID being in a relationship," people with mild ID were viewed more favorably (e.g.…”

Effect of Service Structure and Organization on Staff Care Practices in Small Community Homes for People with Intellectual Disabilities

“…1982; Baumeister & Zaharia 1987; Felce et al. 1993; Hatton & Emerson 1998); attitudes (Department of Health and Social Security, 1979; Stenfert Kroese & Fleming 1992; Kordoutis et al. 1995; Henry et al.…”

“…1974; Mansell et al 1982;Felce et al 1991); staff qualifications and experience (Allen et al 1990); receipt of training and staff knowledge (Cullen 1988;Levy et al 1994;Hastings et al 1997;Jones et al 1999;Mansell et al 2003;Bradshaw et al 2004); turnover; (Lakin et al 1982;Baumeister & Zaharia 1987;Felce et al 1993;Hatton & Emerson 1998); attitudes (Department of Health and Social Security, 1979;Stenfert Kroese & Fleming 1992;Kordoutis et al 1995;Henry et al 1996).…”

Job stress and burnout in the care staff of Leros PIKPA Asylum 25 years after the first Deinstitutionalisation and Rehabilitation Greek Project

“…Twenty-five years after the first deinstitutionalisation, the aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between job content and burnout syndrome among the staff of Leros PIKPA Asylum. Previous studies showed the significance of the application of intervention programmes for deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation, [10][11][12] as well as the need for supporting employees with high levels of stress and difficulties in their workplace. 12…”