Tobacco smoking is a major health problem within our community. To date, little attention has bee... more Tobacco smoking is a major health problem within our community. To date, little attention has been focused on determining the prevalence of smoking in people with disabilities or in developing appropriate strategies to assist them to stop smoking. Funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation enabled the Developmental Disability Unit at Monash University, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia, to undertake a project investigating smoking in a population of people with intellectual disability. In the first part of the project, the smoking rate among a geographically defined group of people with mild intellectual disability was investigated. A smoking prevalence of 36% was found within the sample group, as compared to a prevalence of 26% within the general Victorian adult population. An association was found between the motivation to quite and the recall of advice to stop smoking. The second part of the project comprised the development and piloting of a smoking education course for people with intellectual disability. The pilot sample was small, but the results were encouraging. Fifty-five per cent of the group either quit smoking or cut down their intake significantly. Seventy-three per cent expressed a desire to stop smoking at the completion of the course, and all participants expressed an increased concern and knowledge about the effects of smoking on their health after completing the course.
People with an intellectual disability and their families experience poorer health care compared ... more People with an intellectual disability and their families experience poorer health care compared with the general population. Living with an intellectual disability is often challenged by coexisting complex and chronic conditions, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions. A literature review was undertaken to document the needs of this vulnerable population, and consultation was undertaken with mothers of children with disabilities and with professionals working within disability services for people with an intellectual disability and their families. Based on this review, there is a need to increase the profile of people with an intellectual disability in the discourse surrounding chronic and complex conditions. Strategies such as guideline and competency development may better prepare health professions to care for people with disabilities and chronic and complex care needs and their families.
The delivery of family-centred practice (FCP) within Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECISs... more The delivery of family-centred practice (FCP) within Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECISs) for young children with a disability or development delay conceptualises that children's learning environments, parenting, family and community supports intersect to have the greatest impact on the developing child. The transdisciplinary key worker model is considered a best-practice approach within ECISs whereby staff work collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries to plan and implement services for children and their families. Research suggests families who have a key worker have better relationships with services, fewer unmet needs, better morale, more information about services, higher parental satisfaction and more parental involvement than those not receiving this service. Using a phenomenological qualitative design this study sought to understand transdisciplinary key workers' perspectives regarding the strengths and challenges to undertaking their role in providing ...
The general practitioner has a central role in the oversight and coordination of the person with ... more The general practitioner has a central role in the oversight and coordination of the person with cerebral palsy's health needs. This fact sheet outlines some general guidelines about the contribution of various members of the multidisciplinary team.
Sleep difficulties are common in people with cerebral palsy and can have an adverse effect on hea... more Sleep difficulties are common in people with cerebral palsy and can have an adverse effect on health and development. This fact sheet outlines some of the causes of sleep difficulties and investigation options for GPs.
Cerebral palsy is characterised by the presence of one or more movement disorders. This fact shee... more Cerebral palsy is characterised by the presence of one or more movement disorders. This fact sheet outlines the various movement disorders and treatment options.
As children grow and develop into adolescents, adults and into old age, the underlying neurologic... more As children grow and develop into adolescents, adults and into old age, the underlying neurological impairment does not change; however the various manifestations and implications may do so. This fact sheet describes the GPs role in proactive healthcare, health promotion and disease prevention.
People with cerebral palsy may have a range of health issues related to both the intrinsic muscul... more People with cerebral palsy may have a range of health issues related to both the intrinsic musculo-skeletal issues of cerebral palsy, and the impact of the underlying cause on other body systems. This fact sheet describing some of the associated health implications and treatment options for GPs.
Disability affects most people at some time in their life. In 2003, one-fifth of the Australian p... more Disability affects most people at some time in their life. In 2003, one-fifth of the Australian population reported an impairment or activity limitation and 3.9% (677,700) reported the need for ongoing assistance with self-care, mobility or communication (AIHW, 2006). As the population ages, more Australians will be affected by disability. People with disabilities and their carers, therefore, make up a significant proportion of any healthcare provider’s practice population. The focus of the project presented in this report is people with developmental disabilities: those arising from differences in neurological functioning caused by atypical brain development or injury to the brain before birth or during childhood, resulting in lifelong functional difficulties. Developmental disabilities include, for example, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and autism, and are associated with significant health inequalities when compared to the general community (Scheepers, et al., 2005). These inequalities relate to many health conditions remaining unrecognised and/or receiving suboptimal treatment (Durvasula & Beange, 2001). Major obstacles to adequate healthcare include inherent communication difficulties and professionals’ limited knowledge of, and negative attitudes towards, this group (Lennox et al., 2000). This report describes a project for undergraduate students aimed at improving their knowledge of and attitudes to people with developmental disabilities and at demonstrating how interprofessional collaborative care could address the health inequalities experienced by this group.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide reasonable and necessary supports... more The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide reasonable and necessary supports required by eligible participants to live an ordinary life. This fact sheet outlines the NDIS and the GPs role.
Welcome to an issue of Australian Family Physician that is particularly close to my heart. My son... more Welcome to an issue of Australian Family Physician that is particularly close to my heart. My son has an intellectual disability, and I understand firsthand the importance and challenges of maintaining optimal health in this group of patients.
People with intellectual disability make up 2-3% of the population and have a higher morbidity an... more People with intellectual disability make up 2-3% of the population and have a higher morbidity and reduced life expectancy when compared with the general population. They encounter a range of physical, attitudinal, communication and systemic barriers to accessing mainstream health services which contribute to and compound their disadvantage. People with intellectual disability tend to have multiple, chronic health issues and no one health professional can address all their needs. Input from various members of a multidisciplinary team is therefore required. Moreover, people with cognitive and communication difficulties require advocacy and support in accessing health services and in following through on management recommendations. Additionally, rural health and disability services are limited by resources, distances and workforce shortages which lead to a double disadvantage for people with intellectual disability living in rural Australia.
Some people with cerebral palsy may face particular challenges with communication. This fact shee... more Some people with cerebral palsy may face particular challenges with communication. This fact sheet describes some of the ways to support and assist communication with people with cerebral palsy.
People with cerebral palsy often have multiple medical and social issues. This fact sheets descri... more People with cerebral palsy often have multiple medical and social issues. This fact sheets describes a systematic approach to managing the complexity inherent in care.
This fact sheet is for people with cerebral palsy and those who support them in their healthcare ... more This fact sheet is for people with cerebral palsy and those who support them in their healthcare needs. It provides some ideas for making the most of your appointment with your GP.
Cerebral palsy is the term for a group of disorders and has many different causes. This fact shee... more Cerebral palsy is the term for a group of disorders and has many different causes. This fact sheet describes some of the risk factors, causes and investigations for GPs.
Tobacco smoking is a major health problem within our community. To date, little attention has bee... more Tobacco smoking is a major health problem within our community. To date, little attention has been focused on determining the prevalence of smoking in people with disabilities or in developing appropriate strategies to assist them to stop smoking. Funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation enabled the Developmental Disability Unit at Monash University, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia, to undertake a project investigating smoking in a population of people with intellectual disability. In the first part of the project, the smoking rate among a geographically defined group of people with mild intellectual disability was investigated. A smoking prevalence of 36% was found within the sample group, as compared to a prevalence of 26% within the general Victorian adult population. An association was found between the motivation to quite and the recall of advice to stop smoking. The second part of the project comprised the development and piloting of a smoking education course for people with intellectual disability. The pilot sample was small, but the results were encouraging. Fifty-five per cent of the group either quit smoking or cut down their intake significantly. Seventy-three per cent expressed a desire to stop smoking at the completion of the course, and all participants expressed an increased concern and knowledge about the effects of smoking on their health after completing the course.
People with an intellectual disability and their families experience poorer health care compared ... more People with an intellectual disability and their families experience poorer health care compared with the general population. Living with an intellectual disability is often challenged by coexisting complex and chronic conditions, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions. A literature review was undertaken to document the needs of this vulnerable population, and consultation was undertaken with mothers of children with disabilities and with professionals working within disability services for people with an intellectual disability and their families. Based on this review, there is a need to increase the profile of people with an intellectual disability in the discourse surrounding chronic and complex conditions. Strategies such as guideline and competency development may better prepare health professions to care for people with disabilities and chronic and complex care needs and their families.
The delivery of family-centred practice (FCP) within Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECISs... more The delivery of family-centred practice (FCP) within Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECISs) for young children with a disability or development delay conceptualises that children's learning environments, parenting, family and community supports intersect to have the greatest impact on the developing child. The transdisciplinary key worker model is considered a best-practice approach within ECISs whereby staff work collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries to plan and implement services for children and their families. Research suggests families who have a key worker have better relationships with services, fewer unmet needs, better morale, more information about services, higher parental satisfaction and more parental involvement than those not receiving this service. Using a phenomenological qualitative design this study sought to understand transdisciplinary key workers' perspectives regarding the strengths and challenges to undertaking their role in providing ...
The general practitioner has a central role in the oversight and coordination of the person with ... more The general practitioner has a central role in the oversight and coordination of the person with cerebral palsy's health needs. This fact sheet outlines some general guidelines about the contribution of various members of the multidisciplinary team.
Sleep difficulties are common in people with cerebral palsy and can have an adverse effect on hea... more Sleep difficulties are common in people with cerebral palsy and can have an adverse effect on health and development. This fact sheet outlines some of the causes of sleep difficulties and investigation options for GPs.
Cerebral palsy is characterised by the presence of one or more movement disorders. This fact shee... more Cerebral palsy is characterised by the presence of one or more movement disorders. This fact sheet outlines the various movement disorders and treatment options.
As children grow and develop into adolescents, adults and into old age, the underlying neurologic... more As children grow and develop into adolescents, adults and into old age, the underlying neurological impairment does not change; however the various manifestations and implications may do so. This fact sheet describes the GPs role in proactive healthcare, health promotion and disease prevention.
People with cerebral palsy may have a range of health issues related to both the intrinsic muscul... more People with cerebral palsy may have a range of health issues related to both the intrinsic musculo-skeletal issues of cerebral palsy, and the impact of the underlying cause on other body systems. This fact sheet describing some of the associated health implications and treatment options for GPs.
Disability affects most people at some time in their life. In 2003, one-fifth of the Australian p... more Disability affects most people at some time in their life. In 2003, one-fifth of the Australian population reported an impairment or activity limitation and 3.9% (677,700) reported the need for ongoing assistance with self-care, mobility or communication (AIHW, 2006). As the population ages, more Australians will be affected by disability. People with disabilities and their carers, therefore, make up a significant proportion of any healthcare provider’s practice population. The focus of the project presented in this report is people with developmental disabilities: those arising from differences in neurological functioning caused by atypical brain development or injury to the brain before birth or during childhood, resulting in lifelong functional difficulties. Developmental disabilities include, for example, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and autism, and are associated with significant health inequalities when compared to the general community (Scheepers, et al., 2005). These inequalities relate to many health conditions remaining unrecognised and/or receiving suboptimal treatment (Durvasula & Beange, 2001). Major obstacles to adequate healthcare include inherent communication difficulties and professionals’ limited knowledge of, and negative attitudes towards, this group (Lennox et al., 2000). This report describes a project for undergraduate students aimed at improving their knowledge of and attitudes to people with developmental disabilities and at demonstrating how interprofessional collaborative care could address the health inequalities experienced by this group.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide reasonable and necessary supports... more The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide reasonable and necessary supports required by eligible participants to live an ordinary life. This fact sheet outlines the NDIS and the GPs role.
Welcome to an issue of Australian Family Physician that is particularly close to my heart. My son... more Welcome to an issue of Australian Family Physician that is particularly close to my heart. My son has an intellectual disability, and I understand firsthand the importance and challenges of maintaining optimal health in this group of patients.
People with intellectual disability make up 2-3% of the population and have a higher morbidity an... more People with intellectual disability make up 2-3% of the population and have a higher morbidity and reduced life expectancy when compared with the general population. They encounter a range of physical, attitudinal, communication and systemic barriers to accessing mainstream health services which contribute to and compound their disadvantage. People with intellectual disability tend to have multiple, chronic health issues and no one health professional can address all their needs. Input from various members of a multidisciplinary team is therefore required. Moreover, people with cognitive and communication difficulties require advocacy and support in accessing health services and in following through on management recommendations. Additionally, rural health and disability services are limited by resources, distances and workforce shortages which lead to a double disadvantage for people with intellectual disability living in rural Australia.
Some people with cerebral palsy may face particular challenges with communication. This fact shee... more Some people with cerebral palsy may face particular challenges with communication. This fact sheet describes some of the ways to support and assist communication with people with cerebral palsy.
People with cerebral palsy often have multiple medical and social issues. This fact sheets descri... more People with cerebral palsy often have multiple medical and social issues. This fact sheets describes a systematic approach to managing the complexity inherent in care.
This fact sheet is for people with cerebral palsy and those who support them in their healthcare ... more This fact sheet is for people with cerebral palsy and those who support them in their healthcare needs. It provides some ideas for making the most of your appointment with your GP.
Cerebral palsy is the term for a group of disorders and has many different causes. This fact shee... more Cerebral palsy is the term for a group of disorders and has many different causes. This fact sheet describes some of the risk factors, causes and investigations for GPs.
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