Topics, methods and challenges in health promotion for people with intellectual disabilities: a structured review of literature

Abstract

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience substantial health inequities compared, with the general population. Many secondary conditions and lifestyle related health problems could be, prevented with adequate health promotion. The aim of this structured review is to provide insight into, the main characteristics of published health promotion intervention studies for people with ID and, in, doing so, to identify best practice and knowledge gaps. Relevant studies were identified through a, structured literature search of multiple electronic databases (PubMed, CINHAS, Scopus, PsychINFO), the search strategy covered health promotion and intellectual disabilities for available papers, published between February 2002 and 2012. In total, 25 studies were included and analyzed. Overall, studies were diverse and explored a variety of health issues. Papers included a variety of participants (in relation to level of disability) and intervention approaches. With regard to quality, many studies, failed to report how they recruited their participants, and there were substantial challenges identified, by authors in relation to recruitment, implementation of interventions, and the selection of outcome, measures used as well as the usability of measures themselves. Our findings suggest that this field, experiences methodological weaknesses and inconsistencies that make it difficult to compare and, contrast results. Theoretically driven studies that take into account the views and expectations of, participants themselves are needed, as is research that investigates the reliability and validity of, outcome measures for the ID population. Collaboration with mainstream health promotion research is, critical.

Keywords: Health education; Health promotion; Intellectual disabilities; Prevention; Review.