Publications by authors named "Natasha A Spassiani"

Background: The COVID-19 global pandemic has put adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities at greater risk of being socially excluded due to physical distancing. Technology has been looked at as a tool for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to stay connected, however, little is known about this topic. The purpose of this study was to explore how a grassroots disability organisation used technology to help adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities feel socially connected during the pandemic.

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Introduction: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more likely to visit the emergency department (ED) more frequently than their counterparts without ID. Nurses play an integral role in caring for all patients in the ED, including those with ID, although training to work with this population is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the self-perceived knowledge, skills, and comfort of ED nurses when caring for a patient with ID.

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As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) age, it is important that I/DD agencies are prepared to support healthy ageing in homes and in communities. This study explored supports and barriers to sustaining community-based health and participation initiatives (CBHPI) for people ageing with I/DD living in group homes managed by agencies. The study utilized interviews and photovoice with 70 participants-35 individuals with I/DD and 35 management/direct support agency staff.

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Background: Self-management of health includes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) playing a key role in health management in collaborating with healthcare professionals.

Methods: This study analysed data from Personal Outcome Measures surveys (n = 1,341) to explore self-management of health. We had the following research questions: Who is most likely to be supported to self-manage their health? How does being supported to self-manage impact different areas of health? and How does being supported to self-manage impact other health-related organizational supports?

Results: Findings revealed the impact of self-management of health can be wide-ranging, regardless of impairment severity.

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Background: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) experience barriers to community participation, yet their insider experiences of environmental barriers and supports to participation are largely absent from the literature.

Aim/objective: The aims of this research were to evaluate Photovoice as a participatory research method, examine environmental barriers and supports to community participation, and develop strategies to support self-determination and community participation for and with people with I/DD.

Material And Method: This study utilized a participatory action research (PAR) approach in which participants used Photovoice during interviews and audits of participation environments to identify high interest participation activities and document supports and barriers in these environments.

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Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have complex healthcare needs, which are often unmet. Nominal group technique (NGT) uses a mixed-methods approach, which may engage the IDD population in the research process in a person-centered manner and address the shortcomings of traditional research methods with this population. NGT was used with a group of 10 self-advocates to evaluate a series of healthcare tools created by and for individuals with IDD.

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Community-based health initiatives (CBHI) play an important role in maintaining the health, function and participation of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) living in the community. However, implementation and long-term sustainability of CBHI is challenging. The Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARiHS) is a knowledge translation (KT) framework that is particularly relevant to intellectual/developmental disabilities research as it identifies the barriers and facilitators of implementation and action plans.

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Fatty liver is an increasingly prevalent condition that is associated with several metabolic derangements, thus necessitating the development of effective therapeutic interventions. Growing evidence from cross-sectional studies suggest that physical activity may be a promising therapy for fatty liver. Unfortunately, longitudinal evidence supporting this observation in humans is sparse, as the majority of intervention studies have examined the relationship between liver fat and physical activity in conjunction with caloric and dietary fat restriction.

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