Staff Knowledge of the Side Effects of Anti‐Psychotic Medication

Abstract

Background Anti-psychotic medications are widely prescribed to people with intellectual disabilities and have a range of negative side effects. The aim was to identify the level of knowledge of anti-psychotic medications and their side effects among key carers or home managers of adults with intellectual disabilities living in residential group homes who are prescribed such medication. Method The sample was 25 of the 30 adults on the caseloads of community nurses in one community learning disability team who lived in residential services and who were prescribed anti-psychotic medication. Key carers (n ¼ 22) or home managers (n ¼ 3) were interviewed about their knowledge of these medications and their side effects, the source of their knowledge and their needs for training. Results Knowledge of potential side effects was somewhat limited. Only two were identified by the majority of respondents. Most respondents felt insufficiently informed and in need of further training. Conclusions There is a role for an informed professional, such as a community nurse, to ensure that carers receive good, verbal and written information about such medications and their side effects at the time of prescription.

Psychotropic medications and adults with intellectual disabilities: care staff perspectives

“…Those side-effects cited in the present study (see Table I) were quite limited in number, when compared with those produced by the literature and in similar studies (Christian et al, 1999;Fretwell and Felce, 2007). It is therefore likely that certain side-effects remain unrecognised within this organisation (Singh et al, 1994;Fleming et al, 1996;Gardner Wilson et al, 1998).…”

“…Research into staff knowledge about psychotropics is limited (Fretwell and Felce, 2007). Overall, the present staff believed their level of training in psychotropics was poor.…”

“…Only three contemporary studies exist that investigate the knowledge and attitudes of care staff about psychotropic medications for individuals with intellectual disabilities (Christian et al, 1999;Heslop et al, 2005;Fretwell and Felce, 2007). However, none address these issues specifically with care staff qualitatively.…”

“…It is these care staff who are often responsible for making a psychological or psychiatric referral on behalf of their clients Glenwick, 1997, 2001;Moss et al, 2000;Costello et al, 2007). However, given that psychiatric treatment often results in the prescribing of psychotropic medications, there is a paucity of research into care staff experience of and understanding about these drugs, and their associated side-effects (Fretwell and Felce, 2007).…”

“…Few formal training systems are instigated by employing organisations and staff knowledge is often dependent upon the motivation of the Fretwell and Felce, 2007). It is possible that weaknesses along this chain of communication could challenge the ability of services to provide appropriate care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.…”