Older Carer Experience in Supporting a Weight Loss Programme for Adults with Intellectual Disability who are Overweight or Obese
David Marshall
Queens
David Marshall is a Senior Lecturer in Learning Disability Nursing at Queen's University Belfast. He is passionate in preparing undergraduate nursing students with the acquired knowledge in meeting the needs of people who have a learning disability and their carers. David's career has spanned working in the statutory, voluntary and private sector within services supporting caring of people who have a learning disability. A recent recipient of a QUB Lecturer of the Year Award having been judged as a winner in the Most Motivating and Inspirational Lecturer Category 2015 - all the more pleasing in that the Award was voted by the students themselves and sponsored by the University student union. David's vision for his students is that they will practice innovatively and creatively in an evidenced based approach to best serve the client group they care for.
Abstract
Background The inability to access health services and a lack of inclusion in health promotion strategies appear to present significant barriers in the efforts of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their carers to... [ view full abstract ]
Background
The inability to access health services and a lack of inclusion in health promotion strategies appear to present significant barriers in the efforts of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their carers to meaningfully access weight management programmes. It is essential to involve ‘carers’ in research about those they care for in order to gain a more in-depth knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work in relation to promoting and sustaining the health and well-being of people who have an intellectual disability. Aim & Objective
To explore the ‘lived experience’ of ‘carers’ supporting adults with ID taking part in a weight loss programme
Method
The study adopts a phenomenological methodology enabling a better understanding of how respondents come to experience phenomena in the way they do.
A purposeful sample of 12 Carers, of young adults with ID whose Body Mass Index was recorded as ‘overweight/obese’ and who participated in a multi-component weight loss programme, took part. All carers and participants lived at home.
Data was collected from the carers through audio-taped, semi-structured interviews. Nvivo software was used to set up a coding framework to develop themes upon which to analyse the qualitative data.
Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Office of Research Ethics NI and two relevant Health Trust Ethics Committees with which the participants were associated.
Findings.
Findings discovered a broad diversity in the loved experience of carers in supporting the young adults who took part in the weight loss programme. Emergent themes included; Theme 1: Carers lived experience of ‘what works’ in supporting young adults with ID taking part in a weight loss programme. Theme 2: Carers insights into the ‘real world’ of ‘what hinders’ their support. Theme 3: Carer conclusions: moving forward or stepping back.
Conclusion and Implications.
The study highlights that focusing on what support ‘carers’ need is crucial, in order to meaningfully support young adults with ID achieving positive outcomes in taking part in weight loss programmes and that further research in this area is recommended.
Authors
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David Marshall
(Queens)
Topic Area
Intellectual Disability
Session
PP-W » Posters: Wednesday only (13:30 - Wednesday, 4th November, Outside Seminar Room 1.10)
Presentation Files
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