Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Kuijper, Gerda
• Jonker, Josien
• Sheehan, Rory
• Hassiotis, Angela

Titel

A survey on service users' perspectives about information and shared decision‐making in psychotropic drug prescriptions in people with intellectual disabilities

Ist Teil von

• British journal of learning disabilities, 2024-06, Vol.52 (2), p.350-361

Ort / Verlag

Kidderminster: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background In people with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders and/or challenging behaviours, rates of psychotropic drug prescription are high. In clinical treatments and evaluations, all stakeholders should be involved in a process of shared decision‐making (SDM). We aimed to investigate the perspectives of clients and their carers on clients’ treatments with psychotropic drugs. Methods We conducted a survey among adults with intellectual disabilities in a Dutch mental healthcare centre providing community, outpatient and inpatient care. Data were collected between January and June 2022. Questions focused on experiences with the provision of information, treatment involvement and SDM and participants' wishes in this regard. Findings Respondents (57 clients and 21 carers) were largely satisfied with the overall care from their clinicians, and with how information on the pharmacological treatment was provided verbally, but written information was insufficient or not provided. Seventy per cent of clients and 60% of carers reported being involved in medication decision‐making. However, over 75% of participants desired greater involvement in SDM and over 60% in medication reviews. Conclusions Service users and representatives were satisfied about the treatment and verbal information on their psychotropic drug use. The provision of written information, the SDM process and ongoing evaluation of psychotropic medication use could be improved. Accessible summaries People with intellectual disabilities are often prescribed medication for mental or behavioural disorders. It is important that healthcare professionals listen to the views of people who are prescribed this medication. However, people may not be involved enough when decisions are made about their medication. They might not have enough information about their medication in a way that they understand. We wanted to know the views of clients with intellectual disability about their psychotropic medication use. We invited clients, their representatives and paid carers of a specialist mental healthcare centre to take part in a survey. Questions were about: (1) The relationship with their doctor. (2) If they were given the right information. (3) Involvement in medication evaluations. (4) Involvement in decisions regarding their medications. Seventy‐eight service users (57 clients and 21 carers) completed the questionnaire. Answers were that: (1) Service users were satisfied with the overall care from their doctor. (2) Service users were satisfied with the information about the prescription of medication that was provided verbally. They were less satisfied about written information that they received about their psychotropic medication. (3) Most service users reported being involved in medication decision‐making, but fewer than half were completely satisfied with this. (4) Most service users wanted to be more involved in decisions about their medication. Our findings mean that healthcare professionals need to do more to involve service users with learning disabilities in decisions about their medication.