Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Feb 1;14(2):e069588.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069588.

What are the views of adults with an intellectual disability (AWID), carers and healthcare professionals on a community falls management programme for AWID: a qualitative interview study in the UK

Katie Robinson  1   2 , Phillipa Logan  3   4 , Carol Tucker  5 , Janet Finlayson  6 , Veronika van der Wardt  3   7 , Alice Kilby  8 , Sue Knowles  5 , Stevie Vanhegan  5 , Stuart Hodgson  8 , Nicola Lidstone  2
Affiliations

What are the views of adults with an intellectual disability (AWID), carers and healthcare professionals on a community falls management programme for AWID: a qualitative interview study in the UK

Katie Robinson et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to refine a draft of the ACTiON FALLS LD programme based on the views of adults with an intellectual disability (AWID), carers and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Design, setting and participants: The semistructured interview study included HCP as well as AWID and carers supporting AWID living in the community. Community settings included sheltered living, supported living, AWID living at home with family carers or independently. The interview study explored the first draft of the ACTiON FALLS LD programme as well as the wider falls management for AWID. Interviews with AWID were developed to include a range of approaches (eg, case studies, pictures) to support inclusive participation. Individual interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Researcher notes were used during interviews with AWID. All data were analysed using the principles of framework analysis.

Results: 14 HCP, 8 carers and 13 AWID took part in the interview process. Five key themes were identified: programme components, programme design, programme approach, who would use the programme and programme delivery.

Conclusions: The views of AWID, HCP and carers showed the need to consider the impact of risk perception, anxiety and fear of falling in the adaption of the ACTiON FALLS programme. The programme needs to be accessible and support the inclusion of AWID in managing falls and ultimately fulfil the requirement for a proactive and educational tool by all.

Keywords: geriatric medicine; public health; rehabilitation medicine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: PL was the lead of the Falls in Care Homes trial and led the development of the ACTiON FALLS programme for community and care home settings, KR was a researcher on the Falls in Care Homes trial.

References

    1. Cahill S, Stancliffe RJ, Clemson L, et al. . Reconstructing the fall: individual, behavioural and Contextual factors associated with falls in individuals with intellectual disability. J Intellect Disabil Res 2014;58:321–32. 10.1111/jir.12015 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Axmon A, Ahlström G, Sandberg M. Falls resulting in health care among older people with intellectual disability in comparison with the general population. J Intellect Disabil Res 2019;63:193–204. 10.1111/jir.12564 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Finlayson J, Morrison J, Jackson A, et al. . Injuries, falls and accidents among adults with intellectual disabilities. J Intellect Disabil Res 2010;54:966–80. 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01319.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Walker GM, Armstrong S, Gordon AL, et al. . The Falls In Care Home study: a feasibility randomized controlled trial of the use of a risk assessment and decision support tool to prevent falls in care homes. Clin Rehabil 2016;30:972–83. 10.1177/0269215515604672 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pope J, Truesdale M, Brown M. Risk factors for falls among adults with intellectual disabilities: a narrative review. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2021;34:274–85. 10.1111/jar.12805 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types