An investigation of the efficacy of the adapted 'HealthMatters Program' on weight management and healthy related outcomes for people with an intellectual disability using a four phase mixed methodological design
Background: People with Intellectual disabilities within a residential context often do not have the information and support to make healthy lifestyle choices, which puts them at risk of weight management problems such as obesity and health conditions such as heart disease (Draheim et al. 2007; Emer...
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Ulster University
2015
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| Online Access: | http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.674735 |
| Summary: | Background: People with Intellectual disabilities within a residential context often do not have the information and support to make healthy lifestyle choices, which puts them at risk of weight management problems such as obesity and health conditions such as heart disease (Draheim et al. 2007; Emerson et al. 2011). An adapted version of the 'HealthMatters Program' developed by Marks et al. (2013) had the potential to provide people with intellectual disabilities with the knowledge and support to make healthy lifestyle choices. Aims: The overall aim was to test the efficacy of the adapted 'HealthMatters Program' on weight management and health related outcomes for people with ID, and assess staffs' knowledge and attitudes in supporting these individuals to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Methods: A four phase mixed method design was adopted .The first phase explored the feasibility of the adapted 'HealthMatters Program' within a UK residential context. The second experimental phase tested the efficacy of the intervention on outcomes for 38 staff and 62 people with ID. The third and fourth phases explored participants' experiences of engaging with the intervention and investigated organisational barrierslincentives to health promotion activities. Findings: Although knowledge outcomes improved for people with ID and staff after the adapted 'HealthMatters Program', this did not translate into Significant and sustainable weight loss outcomes for people with ID. It is proposed that staff did not get organisational support to help individuals with ID to sustain changes. This study has made a unique contribution to knowledge by highlighting how preparatory work needs to be undertaken on an organisational level before the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change is applied to initiate and sustain behaviour change on an individual level for people with ID. Further directions for policy and research are suggested for implementing health promotion activities on an organisational and community level. |
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