Authors: Lin, J.-D.; Yen, C.-F.¹; Loh, C.-H.²; Chwo, M.-J.³; Lee, J.-T.⁴; Wu, J.-L.¹; Chu, C. M.⁵; Tang, C.-C.⁶

Source: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Volume 50, Number 1, January 2006 , pp. 25-32(8)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Background 

Little information is available on the provision of supportive health environments for persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) in institutions. The aim of this study was to present an overview of supportive environments for health in institutions in Taiwan. Methods 

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine the perceptions of 121 Taiwanese Institutional Directors on their setting's implementation of supportive healthy physical, social, and economic environments. Results 

Analyses showed that first-aid kits (97.5%) and medicine cabinets (85.5%) were the most common health facilities in institutions. Seventy-three per cent of institutions had set up specific areas to be used for rehabilitation practice, while only 43.1% thought their rehabilitation equipment/devices adequate for their real needs. Eighty-eight per cent of institutions implemented health promotion plans for people with ID, while 76.6% had appropriated specific health promotion plans. Sixty-three institutions (52.1%) reported employment of skilled nurses to serve people with ID, and these institutions showed statistically significant differences in implementation of each health facility. Conclusions 

The present paper is the first to analyze supportive environments for health in disability institutions in Taiwan. An important focus of future research will be the extension of the present findings to consider the appropriateness of each area of supportive environments for improving the quality of institutional care for people with ID.

Keywords: institution; intellectual disability; supportive environments for health

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00729.x

Affiliations: 1: Research Center for Intellectual Disabilities Taiwan, Chung-Hua Foundation for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Taipei County, Taiwan 2: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 3: School of Nursing, National Defense Medical Center, National Defense University, Taipei, Taiwan 4: Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 5: Center for Environment and Population Health, School of Public Health, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia 6: Department of Early Childhood Care & Education, Tajen Institute of Technology, Pingtung City, Taiwan

Publication date: 2006-01-01

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