While this population is a difficult one to reach for research, attempts to do so should not be abandoned, because the potential health benefits for this underserved group far outweigh the recruitment barriers experienced.
A questionnaire exploring general practitioners' (GPs ' ) perceptions of the barriers and solutions co providing health care to people with intellectual disability was sent to 912 randomly selected GPs throughout Australia. A response rate of 58% was obtained. Results indicated that numerous barriers compromise the quality of health care able to be provided to people with intellectual disability. Communication difficulties with patients and other health professionals, and problems in obtaining patient histories stood out as the two most significant barriers. A range of other barriers were identified, including GPs ' tack of training and experience. patients' poor compliance with management plans, consultation time constraints, difficulties in problem determination, examination difficulties, poor continuity of care, and GPs' inadequate knowledge of the services and resources available. General practitioners also suggested numerous solutions to these barriers, and emphasized the need for increased opportunities for education and training in intellectual disability, The GPs showed an overwhelming willingness to be involved in further education Other major solutions included increasing consultation duration or frequency, proactively involving families and carers in patients' ongoing health care, and increasing remuneration.
The Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) produced a substantial increase in GPs' attention to the health needs of adults with intellectual disability with concomitantly more disease detection. The presumption that these will yield longer-term health benefits, while suggestive, remains unexamined.
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