Designing the Food and Lifestyle Information Program (FLIP) culinary nutrition intervention for adults with mild‐to‐moderate intellectual disability

Abstract

BackgroundPeople with intellectual disability have diverse needs and experience higher rates of diet‐related chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes compared to people without disability. However, they are infrequently included in development and implementation of interventions to address diet‐related chronic disease. The present study describes the process to plan, develop and refine the Food and Lifestyle Information Program (FLIP) culinary nutrition intervention for adults with mild‐to‐moderate intellectual disability.MethodsThe project was initiated by a disability service provider and was guided by the Cook‐Ed™ model and inclusive research principles. Initially the disability service provider and academic research team members co‐designed pre‐program consultation and pilot studies, and draft program resources. Pre‐program consultation explored paid disability support worker (n = 10) perceptions of cooking and food skills, nutrition priorities and optimal program format, which guided further program drafting. Program resources and pilot study design were further developed and refined with co‐researchers with lived experience of intellectual disability who attended a pre‐pilot and then pilot study sessions as remunerated co‐facilitators.ResultsKey characteristics of the FLIP intervention arising from pre‐program consultation included providing cooking task instruction in small steps, enabling participant choice in program activities, promoting an inclusive and social atmosphere, and providing paper‐based resources.ConclusionsFLIP intervention co‐design was enabled through ongoing input from the disability service provider and people with lived experience of intellectual disability. Evaluation of FLIP feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness to improve diet‐related health is underway.