Reasonable adjustments to provide equitable and inclusive assessment, screening and treatment of osteoporosis for adults with intellectual disabilities: a feasibility study

Finlayson, J., De Amicis, L., Gallacher, S., Munro, R., Crockett, J., Godwin, J., Feeney, W. and Skelton, D. A. (2019) Reasonable adjustments to provide equitable and inclusive assessment, screening and treatment of osteoporosis for adults with intellectual disabilities: a feasibility study. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(2), pp. 300-312. (doi: 10.1111/jar.12526) (PMID:30175427)

Abstract

Background: People with intellectual disabilities are a high risk population for developing osteoporosis and fragility fractures, yet they experience barriers to accessing dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) screening and fracture assessment. Reasonable adjustments are a statutory requirement in the UK, but there is a paucity of evidence‐based examples to assist their identification, implementation and evaluation. Method: Thirty adults with intellectual disabilities underwent DXA BMD screening and fracture risk assessment. Reasonable adjustments were identified and implemented. Results: The presence of osteopenia or osteoporosis was detected in 23 out of 29 (79%) participants. Osteoporosis professionals report that 17 of 18 reasonable adjustments identified and implemented are both important and easy to implement. Conclusion: Adults across all levels of intellectual disabilities can complete DXA BMD screening with reasonable adjustments. Widely implementing these reasonable adjustments would contribute to reducing inequalities in health care for adults with intellectual disabilities.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: De Amicis, Dr Leyla
• Authors: Finlayson, J., De Amicis, L., Gallacher, S., Munro, R., Crockett, J., Godwin, J., Feeney, W., and Skelton, D. A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Creativity Culture and Faith
• Journal Name: Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1360-2322
• ISSN (Online): 1468-3148
• Published Online: 02 September 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities 32(2):300-312
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher