Reasonable adjustments to provide equitable and inclusive assessment, screening and treatment of osteoporosis for adults with intellectual disabilities: a feasibility study

Janet Finlayson*, Leyla De Amicis, Stephen Gallacher, Robin Munro, Jennifer Crockett, Jon Godwin, Wendy Feeney, Dawn A. Skelton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
74 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: People with intellectual disabilities are a high risk population for developing osteoporosis and fragility fractures, yet they experience barriers to accessing dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) screening and fracture assessment. Reasonable adjustments are a statutory requirement in the UK, but there is a paucity of evidence-based examples to assist their identification, implementation and evaluation.

Method: Thirty adults with intellectual disabilities underwent DXA BMD screening and fracture risk assessment. Reasonable adjustments were identified and implemented.

Results: The presence of osteopenia or osteoporosis was detected in 23 out of 29 (79%) participants. Osteoporosis professionals report that 17 of 18 reasonable adjustments identified and implemented are both important and easy to implement.

Conclusion: Adults across all levels of intellectual disabilities can complete DXA BMD screening with reasonable adjustments. Widely implementing these reasonable adjustments would contribute to reducing inequalities in health care for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)300-312
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Volume32
Issue number2
Early online date2 Sept 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2019

Keywords

  • intellectual disabilities
  • osteoporosis
  • reasonable adjustments

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