The Nuts and Bolts of Health Care: Evaluating an initiative to build direct support professional capacity to support the health care of individuals with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Background: Direct support professionals (DSP) are instrumental in supporting the health care of individuals with intellectual disabilities, yet receive little training and support for this role. We implemented a capacity building intervention for DSPs in a community agency in Ontario, Canada. This study evaluated the perceived value and feasibility of the intervention and the value of a structured implementation approach.Method: The intervention included communication tools, a health resource toolkit, and training. A mixed methods evaluation was used to collect feedback from DSPs and people with intellectual disabilities.Results: Participants generally found the intervention valuable and feasible. Although practice change is difficult, extensive engagement and being responsive to feedback were helpful strategies. The primary concern reported by DSPs was resistance from health care providers. Conclusion:An important next step is to engage health care providers to ensure the tools are valuable and feasible for everyone involved in the health encounter.

Improving access to primary care and annual health checks for people who have a learning disability: a multistakeholder qualitative study

“…In this study, the importance of primary care proactively reaching-out to encourage attendance at health checks and facilitate follow-up healthcare was clear. People with learning disabilities were sometimes unaware they could have a health check, and aligned with previous research this highlights the role of direct support staff and importance of training on the health needs of people with learning disabilities 34. Training and experiential learning have been found effective in reducing barriers to primary care for people with learning disabilities 32 33 36.…”

“…People with learning disabilities were sometimes unaware they could have a health check, and aligned with previous research this highlights the role of direct support staff and importance of training on the health needs of people with learning disabilities. 34 Training and experiential learning have been found effective in reducing barriers to primary care for people with learning disabilities. 32 33 36 In accordance with this, training the broader primary care team including receptionists, sharing good practice via demonstrating annual health checks and targeted support for practices, were found to contribute to increasing health checks and service improvement in this study.…”

“…31 Practitioner and direct support staff training can also reduce barriers. [32][33][34] Practitioners may lack confidence working with people with learning disabilities, 35 and experiential learning was found beneficial for physicians in Canada. 36 While research into primary care for people with learning disabilities is growing, coproduced research across different stakeholders is sparse.…”

“…Access to primary care for people with learning disabilities can be facilitated by individualised easy-read information,28 29 health questionnaires,30 longer appointments,17 assisting those living unsupported26 and having a proactive,7 flexible approach to suit the person 31. Practitioner and direct support staff training can also reduce barriers 32–34. Practitioners may lack confidence working with people with learning disabilities,35 and experiential learning was found beneficial for physicians in Canada 36…”

“This Is About My Health”: Partnering with Patients and Families to Share Knowledge and Tools about Healthcare Communication for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

“…A screenshot showing part of the "About My Health" tool, filled out with details of a hypothetical patient with IDD and provide a shared communication resource (Selick et al 2022).…”