Abstract
People with intellectual disabilities (PwID) are at a higher risk of developing challenging behaviours (CB). Despite the poor evidence for the effectiveness of medications in managing CB, they are used widely among PwID (50–63%). The aims of our study were to develop a training programme, SPECTROM for support staff to help reduce overmedication in PwID and carry out field testing of SPECTROM including a process evaluation. We developed SPECTROM using the Experience-based co-design method that included four focus groups and a one-day co-design event. Twenty trainees received SPECTROM training. We used the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitudes Scale-Revised-Intellectual Disabilities (MAVAS-R-ID) and the Psychotropic knowledge questionnaire. A semi-structured interview and a feasibility questionnaire were used for process evaluation. SPECTROM website contains 14 modules, resources, and face-to-face training. MAVAS-R-ID scores showed change in staff attitude to ‘medication management’ domain was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Psychotropic knowledge questionnaire showed statistical post-training improvement in correct responses (p < 0.05). Process evaluation data showed that SPECTROM was acceptable, applicable, practical, and relevant to staff practice, and helped to improve self-reflection, knowledge, and support to PwID. SPECTROM is a useful training that helps to change the support staff’s attitude toward CB and improve their knowledge of psychotropic medications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 13161 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Dec 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Funding: This article presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR; nihr.ac.uk), UK under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG-0817-20010) awarded to S.D. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the sponsor or the NIHR, or the Department of Health, UK.
Acknowledgments: We thank adults with intellectual disabilities, Cornwall Learning Disability Advisory Group, family caregivers and advocates, other stakeholders including service provider organisations, Achieve Together, Dimensions-UK, National Autistic Society, MENCAP, Milestones Trust, Avenues Group, VODG, Challenging Behaviour Foundation, AT-Autism, Mandy Donley and Jeffrey Chan from the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission, community learning disability team members, Saadia Arshad, Bini Thomas, and Sujit Jaydeokar for taking part in the project. The Imperial Biomedical Research Centre Facility, which is funded by the National Institute of Health Research, UK, provided support for the study. We also acknowledge the help from the co-applicants and project group members, Umesh Chauhan, John Rose, Jean O’Hara, David Branford, Mike Crawford, Rohit Shankar, Caroline Finlayson, Georgina Samuels, and Mike Wilcock for helping with the development of SPECTROM.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Keywords
- Adults
- Alternatives to medication
- Intellectual (learning) disabilities
- Psychotropic medication
- Support staff
- Training
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pollution
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
