People with intellectual disability living in the community. What can they tell us about adherence to medication in this vulnerable population?
Bernadette Flood
Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services
Bernadette Flood is a pharmacist who has worked with people ageing with intellectual disabilities for the past 16 years.During this time Bernadette has developed a concerned interest in the population with intellectual disabilities.She has a M.Sc. in Primary healthcare from RCSI and has recently completed a PhD in the School of Pharmacy in TCD.Bernadette has attended many pharmacy conferences in the UK and Ireland to raise an awareness of the population with intellectual disabilities among the pharmacy community.Bernadette also attends conferences related to healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities in an effort to raise awareness of the value pharmacists can bring to the care of people ageing with intellectual disabilities.Bernadette’s presentation today is based on a part of her PhD research.
Abstract
Background Many people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) live at home with their families. They may be prescribed medication. There is a scarcity of research representing what is actually happening in the lives of PWID in... [ view full abstract ]
Background
Many people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) live at home with their families. They may be prescribed medication. There is a scarcity of research representing what is actually happening in the lives of PWID in relation to medication use.
Aim and objectives of the study
The aims of this qualitative study, were to discover how informed PWID were about their medication and to identify key factors relating to their experiences of the medication use process.
Method
This project was facilitated by a National Support Organisation for PWID with approval from the TCD Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee. Six PWID consented to participate and were interviewed by a pharmacist using a semi structured tool. A literature review was undertaken following Grounded Theory analysis of the data.
Findings
PWID in this study exhibited various levels of adherence with their medication. PWID may be vulnerable in the medication use process. Self care may lead to poor adherence to medication.
Conclusions and Implications
PWID can provide valuable insight into the medication use process. The adherence of PWID with prescribed medication and treatment should be monitored carefully as many factors may effect adherence. To protect PWID in the medication use process a risk assessment is required to ensure the entire medication use process will be of high quality. Pharmacists have a role to play.
The healthcare environment in which PWID receive care and are prescribed medication is increasingly complex. PWID and their carers know the complexity of their needs, and they alone know the real gaps in healthcare that can occur in services provided to them.
With the move towards increased community and primary care based services, there will be a greater reliance of PWID and society on families and other care providers supporting PWID with their healthcare and medication management.
Authors
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Bernadette Flood
(Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services)
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Martin C Henman
(School of Pharmacy, Trinity College Dublin)
Topic Area
Topics: Intellectual Disability
Session
ID2 » Intellectual Disability 2 (14:00 - Thursday, 10th November, Lecture Theatre 2.57)
Presentation Files
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