title: The impact of health checks for people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review of evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health checks for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) have been recommended as one component of health policy responses to the poorer health of people with ID. This review summarises evidence on the impact of health checks on the health and well-being of people with ID.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic literature searches and email contacts were used to identify literature relevant to the impact of health checks for people with ID.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 publications were identified. These involved checking the health of over 5000 people with ID from a range of countries including a full range of people with ID. Health checks consistently led to detection of unmet health needs and targeted actions to address health needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health checks are effective in identifying previously unrecognised health needs, including life-threatening conditions. Future research should consider strategies for optimising the cost-effectiveness or efficiency of health checks.
authors: Centre for Disability Research, School of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. j.m.robertson@lancaster.ac.uk
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Robertson
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Roberts
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Emerson
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Turner
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Greig
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*