Abstract
Behaviours that challenge (BtC), such as aggression and self-injury, are manifested by many people with intellectual disabilities (ID). National and international guidelines recommend non-pharmacological psychosocial intervention before considering medication to address BtC. Support staff play a pivotal role in the prescription process. Using coproduction, we developed a training programme for support staff, called SPECTROM, to give them knowledge and empower them to question inappropriate prescriptions and ask for the discontinuation of medication if appropriate and instead look for ways to help people with ID when they are distressed without relying on medication. We have presented data from two focus groups that we conducted during the development of SPECTROM: one that included support staff, and another that had service managers and trainers. In these focus groups, we explored participants’ views on the use of medication to address BtC with a particular emphasis on the causes of and alternatives to medication for BtC. Along with the participants’ views, we have also presented how we have addressed these issues in the SPECTROM resources.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 9988 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Aug 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was funded by the UK’s National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (grant PBPG-0817-20010). The Imperial Biomedical Research Centre Facility, which is funded by the NIHR, has provided support for the study. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR, or the Department of Health, UK.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
Keywords
- alternatives to medication for behaviours that challenge
- people with intellectual disabilities
- service/home managers
- social care services
- support staff
- the causes of behaviours that challenge
- trainers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pollution
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis