Contact with Primary Care: The Experience of People with Intellectual Disabilities
Abstract
Background: People with intellectual disabilities experi‐ence disparities in their health and health care. Annual health checks are intended to counter such disparity by improving access to primary health care. However, little is known about their experience of having a health check or other types of contact with primary care services. Materials and Methods: The findings of two studies which used focus groups were combined. 102 people with intellectual disabilities participated in the focus groups. Results: Participants' experiences of primary care services generally, and health checks in particular, were positive. However, unanimity was rare on any of the topics discussed and a number of areas of dissatisfaction emerged. Conclusions: Further studies with larger and more representative samples are necessary as feedback from people with intellectual disabilities about their experience of contact with primary care staff might help to enhance GP knowledge about their health requirements.
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Healthcare practitioners may rely on communicating with a carer, family member, or support worker rather than with the service user directly.
“Healthcare practitioners may rely on communicating with a carer, family member, or support worker rather than with the service user directly.23,25,36,45,47”
From Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review (2020) · cites this paper as [25]
Some healthcare information may be incomprehensible and/or difficult to obtain.
“Some healthcare information may be incomprehensible and/or difficult to obtain.25,34,50,51”
From Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review (2020) · cites this paper as [25]
Long waiting times are a major cause of anxiety and stress.
“Long waiting times are a major cause of anxiety and stress.25,32,45,78,79”
From Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review (2020) · cites this paper as [25]
People with intellectual disabilities and/or autism can make choices about their everyday lives, yet decisions about their health care may be made by their families, carers, and healthcare providers instead.
“People with intellectual disabilities and/or autism can make choices about their everyday lives, yet decisions about their health care may be made by their families, carers, and healthcare providers instead.25”
From Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review (2020) · cites this paper as [25]
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- Authors
- Perry, J., Felce, D., Kerr, M., Bartley, S., Tomlinson, J., & Felce, J.
- Affiliations
- Cardiff University (GB)
- Public Health Wales (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Perry, Jonathan
- ORCID
- Perry, Jonathan
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-09-13
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 200-211
- ISSN
- 0952-9608 (ISSN-L)
- 1360-2322
- 1468-3148
- OpenAlex
- W2111034435
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 3.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Keywords
- intellectual disability, primary care, annual health checks, patient experience, health disparities, health care access, general practitioners, patient satisfaction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Consumer Behavior, Humans, Intellectual Disability, Primary Health Care, Professional-Patient Relations, Wales, Focus Groups, General Practice
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