Reasonable adjustments for people with intellectual disability in acute care: a scoping review of the evidence

Abstract

Objectives People with intellectual disability are vulnerable in terms of health service provision due to increased comorbidity, higher dependency and cognitive impairment. This review explored the literature to ascertain what reasonable adjustments are evident in acute care to support people with intellectual disability, ensuring they have fair access and utilisation of health services.Design Scoping review.Setting Acute care settings.Methods Five databases were systematically searched to identify studies that reported on the implementation of reasonable adjustments. Authors worked in pairs to screen studies for inclusion, data were extracted and charted and findings were synthesised according to content and themes.Results Of the 7770 records identified, six studies were included in the review. The volume of evidence was influenced by specific inclusion criteria, and only papers that reported on the actual implementation of a reasonable adjustment within an acute care setting were included. Many papers reported on the concept of reasonable adjustment; however, few identified its applications in practice.Conclusions The scoping review highlights a lack of research on the practice and implementation of reasonable adjustments within acute care settings. There is a need for increased support, education and the provision of intellectual disability specialists across acute care settings.