title: Enhancing Self-Determination in Health: Results of an RCT of the Ask Project, a School-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Intellectual Disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescents with intellectual disability have high levels of unrecognized disease and inadequate health screening/promotion which might be addressed by improving health advocacy skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  A parallel-group cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate whether a health intervention package, consisting of classroom-based health education, a hand-held health record and a health check, increased carer-reported health advocacy in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carers of 388 adolescents responded. Adolescents allocated to receive the health intervention package were significantly more likely to go to the doctor on their own, ask questions and explain their health problems to the doctor without help. Carers reported their adolescent had benefited, gaining increased knowledge and responsibility for their own health. They themselves reported an increase in knowledge and better ability to support the young person.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An educational initiative based on the Ask Health Diary led to improved healthcare autonomy for adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
authors: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors: Lyn
authors: L
authors: McPherson
authors: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia.|UQ, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors: Robert S
authors: RS
authors: Ware
authors: School of Learning & Professional Studies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Qld, Australia.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Carrington
authors: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Lennox
keywords: adolescent; health advocacy; health check; health diary; intellectual disability; self-determination