title: Inclusion in primary care for people with intellectual disabilities: gaining the perspective of service user and supporting social care staff.
abstract: The aim of this study was to gain service user and social care staff perspectives on the barriers facing people with intellectual disabilities when accessing primary healthcare. A qualitative mixed methods semi-structured approach involved the use of focus groups and individual interviews within the service users' homes. A purposive sampling strategy identified people using primary healthcare in the last 6 months (N = 6) with support from social care staff (N = 19). Three emergent themes were common to service users and carer staff: ;accessing the surgery', ;communication issues' and ;waiting around'. Other themes were unique to each group. Social care staff identified the ;attitudes and behaviour of primary healthcare staff' as sometimes problematic, and the importance of ;knowing the service user'. Service users identified ;feelings about going to the doctor', ;health education' and ;making changes'. Gaining these views is an important first step in improving access to primary healthcare.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK. m.c.jones@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Martyn C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McLafferty
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toland
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012606:Scotland; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work