Strengthening Intellectual Disability Health Awareness

Strengthening Intellectual Disability Health Awareness

• PCEP’s goal is to improve the health of people with intellectual disability.
• This initiative required an assessment for impacts and outcomes.
• Abt assessed the process and outcomes in multiple regions.

PROJECT

Evaluation of the Primary Care Enhancement Program (PCEP)

The Challenge

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) encounter problems when interacting with clinicians who do not know how to effectively communicate with them or understand their needs. This was confirmed by the Royal Commission in ‘Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability ,’ which reported that health professionals lack the knowledge, skills, and appropriate attitudes to address the needs of people with ID. In response, the Primary Care Enhancement Program (PCEP) pilot program was conducted with four primary health networks (PHN) across Australia. The program provided training, support, and assistance to general practitioners (GPs) and other allied health professionals to ensure more effective management for people with an ID. PCEP also worked to improve the health literacy of people with ID. The pilot required an assessment for scalability and measuring impact and outcomes.

The Approach

The evaluation of the PCEP pilot focused on three key questions regarding its effectiveness in enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and skills of primary care providers for people with intellectual disabilities; improving access to healthcare resources; and identifying factors for scalability. A co-design process guided the evaluation, which included bi-annual implementation reports, training surveys, stakeholder consultations (involving 248 participants, including 36 individuals with ID), and feedback from PHN staff. A community of practice was created for PCEP teams to share insights, while Abt provided regular updates to the Department's project team throughout the evaluation process.

The Results

The PCEP pilot improved the knowledge, confidence, and practices of primary care providers in supporting people with ID. The PCEP enhanced access to health resources for ID, developing practical tools and increasing awareness of resource locations. Training improved confidence in using resources, with tools like the CHAP being particularly valued. Key considerations included extended monitoring for further evidence of effectiveness, comprehensive guidance informed by lessons learned during the pilot, establishment of a national resource hub, and strategic partnerships to promote PCEP.

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