Health promotion for adults with intellectual disabilities
(Completed) Adults with intellectual disabilities have an increased risk of developing physical as well as mental ill-health. This target group on average has poor dietary habits, low physical activity and a higher prevalence of obesity compared to the general population. Effective health programmes for this target group are lacking.
Aim
To develop and evaluate a multi-component programme to promote physical activity and healthy diet among adults with intellectual disabilities targeting both residents and staff in community residences.
The programme
The twelve-month programme includes three components:
- Appointment of a health ambassador among staff
- A study circle for staff - where they discuss health promotion work routines and practices
- A health course for the residents
Outcomes:
- Work routines in residences assessed by questionnaire
- Physical activity of residents measured objectively
- Diet quality of residents assessed by digital photography
- Anthropometry of residents
- Satisfaction with life of residents assessed by structured interview
Process evaluation:
Interviews are conducted with managers and health ambassadors to assess barriers and facilitators of implementation, and fidelity to the program components is monitored.
Implementation
The programme has been implemented in 30 community residences in Stockholm County and has been evaluated in a cluster-randomized controlled trial. In another quasi-experimental study including 84 residences in 8 municipalities we have assessed the implementation of the study circle for staff component and its effect on work routines.
Results and further work
Results have been encouraging regarding physical activity, but further development is needed regarding improvements in diet. A manual (in Swedish) has been produced and the programme is being implemented in several municipalities throughout Sweden.
Project contact person:
Liselotte Elinder
Adjunct ProfessorPublications
Promoting a healthy diet and physical activity in adults with intellectual disabilities living in community residences: design and evaluation of a cluster-randomized intervention.
Elinder LS, Bergström H, Hagberg J, Wihlman U, Hagströmer M
BMC Public Health 2010 Dec;10():761
Psychometric evaluation of a scale to assess satisfaction with life among people with intellectual disabilities living in community residences.
Bergström H, Hochwälder J, Kottorp A, Elinder LS
J Intellect Disabil Res 2013 Mar;57(3):250-6
Psychometric evaluation of a scale to assess satisfaction with life among people with intellectual disabilities living in community residences.
Bergström H, Hochwälder J, Kottorp A, Elinder LS
J Intellect Disabil Res 2013 Mar;57(3):250-6
A multi-component universal intervention to improve diet and physical activity among adults with intellectual disabilities in community residences: a cluster randomised controlled trial.
Bergström H, Hagströmer M, Hagberg J, Elinder LS
Res Dev Disabil 2013 Nov;34(11):3847-57
Barriers and facilitators in health education for adults with intellectual disabilities--a qualitative study.
Bergström H, Elinder LS, Wihlman U
Health Educ Res 2014 Apr;29(2):259-71
Understanding the Implementation Process of a Multi-Component Health Promotion Intervention for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Sweden.
Sundblom E, Bergström H, Ellinder LS
J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2015 Jul;28(4):296-306
Definitions, measurement and prevalence of sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities - A systematic review.
Melville CA, Oppewal A, Elinder LS, Freiberger E, Guerra-Balic M, Hilgenkamp TIM, Einarsson I, Izquierdo-Gómez R, Sansano-Nadal O, Rintala P, Cuesta-Vargas A, Giné-Garriga M.
Preventive Medicine 2017;97: 62–71.
Effect and process evaluation of a structural health intervention in community residences for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Elinder LS, Sundblom E, Zeebari Z, Bergström H.
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities 2018; 15. DOI:10.1111/jppi.12262
Oppewal A, Hilgenkamp TIM, Elinder LS, Freiberger E, Rintala P, Guerra-Balic M, Giné-Garriga M, Cuesta-Vargas A, Oviedo GR, Sansano-Nadal O, Izquierdo-Gómez R, Einarsson I, Teittinen A, Melville CA. Correlates of Sedentary Behaviour in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities—A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(10), 2274; doi:10.3390/ijerph15102274