Social Internet Use by People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.

Introduction: Although existing research has explored both the benefits and risks associated with social internet use amongst people with intellectual disabilities (ID), a comprehensive understanding of the underlying reasons for this engagement is still lacking. This systematic review synthesizes literature investigating the reasons for social internet use amongst people with ID.

Methods: Eight electronic databases (Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, ERIC, Google Scholar, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science) were systematically searched in June 2023 and November 2024 and screened using active machine learning techniques.

Evaluating a Virtual Community-of-Practice as Implementation Strategy for the Needs Assessment Framework in Intellectual Disability Care: A Quasi-Experimental Multi-Methods Study.

Background: The Needs Assessment Framework (NAF) stimulates awareness of care staff to consider perspectives of clients with intellectual disabilities in decisions on involuntary care. We explored the effect of implementers' participation in a Virtual Community-of-Practice (VCoP) for designing implementation plans, on NAF implementation and staff awareness.

Method: A quasi-experimental design was used to compare implementation and awareness by care staff (n = 54) between organisations that implemented NAF with VCoP participation (N = 4) and organisations that implemented NAF as usual (N = 3).

The perspectives of agents working in positions of authority within health sector organisations regarding the involvement of experts by experience with an intellectual disability: An exploratory study.

Background: In this study, agents working in positions of authority within health sector organisations shared their perspectives concerning both the involvement of experts by experience with intellectual disabilities within their own organisations and their recommendations as to how best to involve experts by experience in policy and practice.

Method: Using purposive sampling, eight agents were selected for semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Exploring sexual health in people with mild intellectual disabilities: A concept mapping study on the perspectives of relatives and support staff.

Background: Sexual health includes physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing related to sexuality. Given people with mild intellectual disabilities' reliance on relatives and support staff, it is important to explore the latter's understanding of sexual health.

Method: Relatives ( = 7) and support staff ( = 15) of people with mild intellectual disabilities participated in a concept mapping procedure that included brainstorming, sorting and ranking activities.

Acceptance and Use of eHealth in Support and Psychological Therapy for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Two Cross-Sectional Studies of Health Care Professionals.

Background: Acceptance of health care professionals is of paramount importance for the uptake and implementation of eHealth. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model is a widely used framework for studying health care professionals' acceptance and actual use of eHealth among general client populations. However, there is limited understanding of the eHealth acceptance of health care professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Sexual support and education for adults with mild intellectual disabilities: a Delphi study on multiple perspectives.

Background: Providing appropriate sexual support and education for adults with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs) is a source of considerable debate, resulting in diverse, non-funded and potentially adverse practices. This study aims to identify a consensus among experts regarding what conditions are conducive to successful sexual support and education for adults with mild IDs.

Methods: A Delphi study was conducted with 13 experts, including experts-by-experience, relatives, support staff, psychologists and sexologists.

User Requirements and Perceptions of a Sensor System for Early Stress Detection in People With Dementia and People With Intellectual Disability: Qualitative Study.

Background: Timely detection of stress in people with dementia and people with an intellectual disability (ID) may reduce the occurrence of challenging behavior. However, detecting stress is often challenging as many long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia and residents with ID have communication impairments, limiting their ability to express themselves. Wearables can help detect stress but are not always accepted by users and are uncomfortable to wear for longer periods.

The prospective associations between autonomy support, basic psychological needs, motivation and well-being among people with a mild to borderline intellectual disability: a two-wave study.

Background: This study, grounded in self-determination theory, examined how satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence in people with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) changed over a 4.5-year period. Additionally, it explored the association between life events across various domains (i.

Supporting self-determination of individuals with severe or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities according to relatives and healthcare professionals: A concept mapping study.

Background: This study aimed to identify perspectives of relatives and healthcare professionals regarding self-determination support for people with severe or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, highlighting agreements and differences in their viewpoints.

Method: Following a concept mapping study, online focus group meetings yielded statements on self-determination support from relatives (residential facilities: n = 6, family homes: n = 7) and healthcare professionals (residential facilities: n = 9, family home: n = 5). Participants clustered and rated statements, resulting in four concept maps interpreted by experts (N = 6).

Pushing the boundaries of digital social contact: Experiences of people with disabilities and their social networks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people with intellectual disabilities living in care facilities could not receive visitors. Health authorities suggested the use of digital social contact as an alternative for in-person visits. We examined how people with intellectual disabilities living in care facilities experienced the use of digital social contact with their informal social network throughout 2020.

Exploring the experiences of self-determination of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities and epilepsy.

Background: While epilepsy can decrease quality of life and self-determination in individuals without intellectual disabilities, the impact of epilepsy on experienced self-determination in people with intellectual disabilities remains unclear.

Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with six adults (four men, two women) aged 30-61 with mild intellectual disabilities and drug-resistant epilepsy to investigate their experiences of self-determination. The data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

Experienced support at work, team climate and collaboration in teams working with people with mild intellectual disabilities and severe challenging behaviour in residential care: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study explored the perceptions of staff for people with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning and severe challenging behaviour in relation to the support they received at work from four groups of professionals (i.e. team leaders, managers, psychologists and other staff members).

Promoting self-determination of persons with severe or profound intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

People with severe or profound intellectual disabilities (IDs) are believed to experience low levels of self-determination, which negatively affects their quality of life. This systematic review describes existing interventions aimed to support self-determination or components thereof and synthesises evidence on the interventions' effects. Eight databases were searched, turning in 76 articles for the final inclusion.

Participating in the digital world: a consensus statement on digital social contact for people with disabilities living in sheltered care facility homes.

Introduction: Digital social contact is increasingly being used, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the consensus among stakeholders regarding recommendations for the use and facilitation of digital social contact for people with intellectual disabilities living in sheltered care facility homes.

Methods: This consensus statement was developed in three consecutive rounds of questionnaires (rapid online modified Delphi design).

The Experiences of Outreach Support Staff Working with People with Mild Intellectual Disabilities during Different Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands: A Qualitative Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the work of professionals who support people with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to explore the experiences of outreach support staff supporting people with mild intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands during different phases of the pandemic between March 2020 and May 2021. Overall, seven outreach support staff from three intellectual disability services participated in this qualitative study.

Measuring working alliance and technical alliance from the perspective of healthcare professionals working with people with mild intellectual disabilities: adaptation, factor structure and reliability.

Background: The establishment of a valuable and meaningful working alliance between people with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs) and healthcare professionals is critically important for improving both the quality of life and impact of therapy for people with mild IDs. Measuring the working alliance as a treatment or support component is therefore of utmost relevance. In light of the increased use of eHealth tools, it is also essential to measure the alliance using these tools, which is referred to as technical alliance.

Public Stigmatization of People With Intellectual Disability During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to examine the level of discrimination against people with intellectual disability during COVID-19, and assessed stereotypes, levels of familiarity with people with intellectual disability, and personal experiences with COVID-19 as potential correlates. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a large sample from the Dutch population (n = 1,797). Salient stereotype factors of people with intellectual disability were "friendly" and "in need of help," but not "give nuisance.

The General Public's Perceptions of How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Impacted the Elderly and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.

This study examined the general public's perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the elderly and people with intellectual disabilities as well how these perceptions relate to people's level of familiarity and contact quality with these groups. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample of the Dutch population ( = 1458 and = 1761, comprising questions related to the elderly and people with intellectual disabilities, respectively). The general public was found to be generally aware of the deleterious impact of the pandemic upon the elderly and people with intellectual disabilities.

Providing person-centred care to older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: experiences of direct support workers.

: Although the current preventive measures relating to COVID-19 can lead to challenges in the daily work of direct support workers (e.g. keeping 1.

Experiences of therapists conducting psychological assessments and video conferencing therapy sessions with people with mild intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the restrictive measures introduced to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists working with people with mild intellectual disabilities have had to use video conferencing to continue to conduct their psychological assessments and therapy sessions. This qualitative study explored therapists' experiences of using video conferencing during the initial lockdown period in the Netherlands. In total, seven therapists working at a service organisation supporting people with intellectual disabilities participated in this qualitative study ( = 34.

People with intellectual disabilities living in care facilities engaging in virtual social contact: A systematic review of the feasibility and effects on well-being.

Background: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people with disabilities living in home care facilities could not receive visitors. The use of virtual social contact has been recommended by health authorities. This systematic review examined the scientific evidence of the use and feasibility of information and communication technology (ICT) for social contact by people with intellectual disabilities living in care facilities, and potential effects on well-being.

The experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the initial stage of the COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands.

Method: Five psychologists, who were affiliated with three intellectual disability services, participated in this descriptive qualitative study. Overall, they recorded 22 audio messages during the period under examination, which were analysed using thematic analysis.

Experiences of mothers caring for a child with an intellectual disability during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands.

Background: During the first COVID-19 lockdown period, various restrictions led to diminished access to both educational and professional support systems for children with an intellectual disability and their families. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and needs of parents caring for a child with an intellectual disability during the first lockdown period in the Netherlands.

Method: Five mothers caring for a child with an intellectual disability participated in this qualitative study.

eHealth in support for daily functioning of people with intellectual disability: Views of service users, relatives, and professionals on both its advantages and disadvantages and its facilitating and impeding factors.

The use of eHealth in support for daily functioning of service users with intellectual disability (ID) is a rather unexplored domain. Therefore, the current study identified the a) level of familiarity, b) advantages/disadvantages, and c) facilitating/impeding factors for the use of eHealth in support for daily functioning of people with ID according to service users, relatives, and professionals. Four focus groups and one semi-structured qualitative interview were conducted.