scholarly journals Rapid Implementation of a Virtual Education to Support Providers Caring for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities during COVID-19: Program Evaluation (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupam Thakur ◽  
Cheryl Pereira ◽  
Jenny Hardy ◽  
Nicole Bobbette ◽  
Sanjeev Sockalingam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Support Providers

BACKGROUND People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at increased health related risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual training programs that support providers in caring for the physical and mental health needs of this population, as well provide psychological support to the providers themselves are favourable during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a virtual educational COVID focused ECHO® program to support providers in caring for the mental health of the IDD population during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A rapid design thinking approach was used to develop a 6-session long program, with sessions incorporating mindfulness practice, a wellness check, COVID-19 related research and policy updates, a didactic presentation on a combination mental health and COVID related topic, and a case-based discussion to encourage practical learning. The program was evaluated using Moore’s evaluation framework, specifically looking at levels 1-5 (participation, satisfaction, learning, self-efficacy and change in practice), as well as additional reflection measures around innovations to the program. Qualitative feedback from open-text responses were analysed using a modified manifest content analysis. RESULTS Care providers from both health and disability service sectors (n=104) participated in the program. High levels of engagement (81 participants per session on average) and satisfaction (overall mean satisfaction score of 4.31±0.17 out of 5) were observed. Statistically significant improvements in mean self-efficacy scores (19.8%) and mean scores on support and coping measures were seen. Participants also rated high agreement with the newly developed COVID-19 program and its innovative components. Open text feedback responses showed participants felt: ECHO expanded their knowledge and competency, and created this sense of being part of a community of practice; there was value seen for the COVID-19 innovations; ECHO supported the gaining and sharing of resources not just within the smaller group of participants, but with their broader teams and organizations as well; ECHO facilitated changes to participants’ practice via their approach to client care, and increased confidence in supporting clients and families. CONCLUSIONS ECHO is an effective model for capacity building programs with a shared learning approach. Future iterations should include targeted evaluation of long term outcomes such as staff burn out. CLINICALTRIAL This research work doesn't involve a clinical trial.

Promoting Collaboration Between Hospice and Palliative Care Providers and Adult Day Services for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina R. Ronneberg ◽  
Lisa Peters-Beumer ◽  
Beth Marks ◽  
Alan Factor
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
General Population ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Adult Day Services ◽  
Day Services

While end-of-life issues are increasingly gaining more attention, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) continue to receive significantly less consideration in research, education, and clinical practice compared with the general population. This is a growing concern especially since the sheer number of persons aging with IDD is expected to double in the next 17 years. Furthermore, policies are shifting to reflect a preference for home and community-based services as an alternative to institutionalization, and it becomes evident that adult day services (ADS) may be ideal settings for receipt of end-of-life care, especially among individuals with IDD. However, end-of-life care and advance planning most commonly occur in long-term care settings for the general population and have historically been less of a priority in ADS and residential services for people with IDD. This article discusses the attitudes of, and collaboration between, ADS and end-of-life providers for aging adults including persons with IDD and explores how ADS may be a great pathway for delivering end-of-life care to the IDD population. Implications and recommendations will also be examined.

scholarly journals Mental healthcare and service user impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a UK survey of staff working with people with intellectual disability and developmental disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rory Sheehan ◽  
Christian Dalton-Locke ◽  
Afia Ali ◽  
Vasiliki Totsika ◽  
Norha Vera San Juan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service User ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

Background Very little is known about the impact of previous epidemics on the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly in terms of mental health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to exacerbate existing health inequalities as well as expose gaps in service provision for this vulnerable population group. Methods We investigated the responses of 648 staff working in mental healthcare with people with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental disabilities. Participants contributed to a UK-wide online survey undertaken by the National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit between 22nd April and 12th May 2020. Recruitment was via professional networks, social media and third sector organisations. Quantitative data describing staff experience over three domains (challenges at work, service user and carer problems, sources of help at work) were summarised and differences between groups explored using Chi square tests. Content analysis was used to organise qualitative data focusing on service changes in response to the pandemic. Results The majority of survey respondents worked in the NHS and in community mental health services. One third had managerial responsibility. Major concerns expressed by mental healthcare staff were: difficulties for service users due to lack of access to usual support networks and health and social care services during the pandemic; and difficulties maintaining adequate levels of support secondary to increased service user need. Staff reported having to quickly adopt new digital ways of working was challenging; nevertheless, free text responses identified remote working as the innovation that staff would most like to retain after the pandemic subsides. Conclusions Understanding the experiences of staff working across different settings in mental healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential in guiding contingency planning and fostering service developments to ensure the health of this vulnerable group is protected in any future disease outbreaks.

Postpartum emergency department use among women with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a retrospective cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 557-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Mitra ◽  
Ilhom Akobirshoev ◽  
Susan L Parish ◽  
Anne Valentine ◽  
Karen M Clements ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Postpartum Period ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Ed Visits

BackgroundAn emerging body of evidence underscores the often-intensive perinatal healthcare needs of women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, population-based research examining postpartum experiences of US women with IDD is sparse. We examined emergency department (ED) use in the postpartum period among Massachusetts mothers with IDD.MethodsWe analysed 2002–2010 Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data to compare any and ≥2 ED visits between mothers with and without IDD: within 1–42 days post partum, 1–90 days post partum and 1–365 days post partum. We also determined whether or not such ED use was non-urgent or primary-care sensitive.ResultsWe identified 776 births in women with IDD and 595 688 births in women without IDD. Across all three postpartum periods, women with IDD were vastly more likely to have any postpartum ED use, to have ≥2 ED visits and to have ED visits for mental health reasons. These findings persisted after controlling for numerous sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Women with IDD were less likely to have non-urgent ED visits during the three postpartum periods and they were less likely to have primary-care sensitive ED visits during the postpartum period.ConclusionThese findings contribute to the emerging research on perinatal health and healthcare use among women with IDD. Further research examining potential mechanisms behind the observed ED visit use is warranted. High ED use for mental health reasons among women with IDD suggests that their mental health needs are not being adequately met.

Use of Transition Resources by Primary Care Providers for Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-68
Author(s):  
Paul B. Dressler ◽  
Teresa K. Nguyen ◽  
Eric J. Moody ◽  
Sandra L. Friedman ◽  
Laura Pickler
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Successful Transition ◽  
Transition Clinic ◽  
Systemic Barriers

Abstract Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience difficulties with successful transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. A consultative Transition Clinic for youth with IDD was piloted as a quality improvement project, and assessed the engagement of primary care providers (PCPs) for transition planning after patients were seen in clinic. Although many PCPs found the clinic and resources useful, individual and systemic barriers often prohibited them from participating in transition planning for this patient population. These findings highlight systemic barriers that need to be addressed to ensure successful transition, as well as the need for a specialized Transition Clinic with involvement of specialists with expertise in IDD, such as Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, to assist throughout transition process.

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