Moving on

Constipation management in people with intellectual disability: A systematic review

“…Support staff have the potential to play a vital role in the management of constipation in people with intellectual disability; for example, they are often in control of the diet people with intellectual disability receive (Dickson et al., ). However, only two studies provide any information in relation to this theme.…”

“…For registered nurses supporting people with intellectual disability in Ireland, some deficits have been found in knowledge regarding the prevention and management of constipation (Marsh & Sweeney, ) and it is plausible that knowledge deficits could be greater in non‐nursing support staff. Staff training in relation to diet and/or bowel management has been found to be associated with a decrease in bowel medication for adults following a move to the community from a hospital setting, with increases being associated with support by staff with no training (Dickson et al., ). Dickson et al.…”

“…The authors note that the work is costly due to the intensive and prolonged nature of the programme and the field is vastly under resourced. One study in this review found that no people with intellectual disability received clinical psychology input for behavioural management in relation to bowel control (Dickson et al., ).…”

“…Two quantitative descriptive studies provide information on staff‐related issues. One study using information from records and interviews with staff explored diet and bowel management (not restricted to constipation per se, e.g., includes encopresis) in adults with intellectual disability who had moved from a hospital to community‐based staffed homes 4 years previously (Dickson, Paxton, & McKenzie, ). An increase in bowel medication since moving to the community was associated with support by staff with no training, whilst a decrease was associated with support by staff with training.…”

The Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Diet in Carers of People with an Intellectual Disability

“…(2007) surveyed 157 carers and found that those they supported consumed lower levels of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates, dairy products and protein, and equivalent levels of sugar and fat intake when compared with the general population. In addition, in a study investigating the issue of bowel problems in people with an intellectual disability, Dickson et al. (2002) postulated that unhealthy diet could be a factor in causing the clients’ difficulties, although this study had a small sample of only 44 clients.…”