Author(s): Joseph Yazbeck
Department: St. Michael's House
Keywords: Learning Disabilities, Primary Health Care
Background: The WHO estimates the prevalence of
Learning Disability in developed countries at a rate of between 3 and 4 per
1000 persons and even higher in developing countries. The integration of people with a learning
disability into a primary health care system presents a significant challenge
for the health services. While the move
from hospital to community residential provision has focussed attention on the
role of the GP as a generic primary are provider, it is not a new position for
them to occupy as the majority of people with a learning disability have always
lived in the community with their families. However the views of GPs on the delivery of primary health care in
Ireland are not known.
Method:
1 A prospective, quantitative, descriptive analysis
of GP’s views on the provision of primary health care to people with a LD in
the community was undertaken.
2 GPs views were ascertained using a postal
questionnaire, which was administered to a randomly selected group of GPs on
the ICGP register.
3 Analysis was performed using SPSS and tests of
significance were applied as appropriate.
Results: A random sample of 400 GPs on the ICGP
register were posted a validated questionnaire in the period, January to February
2003. A total of 231 valid
questionnaires were returned (58%). Most
GPs were in favour of selective screening such as thyroid function.
Conclusion: GPs clearly see themselves as responsible for
the medical care of people with LD. Nevertheless they see themselves as very reliant on key support workers
and community teams to enable them to carry out this role. The frustration in General Practice over
blanket screening programmes was also seen in the respondents’ generally
negative attitudes towards health screening.