The voices of adults with a learning disability and a carer on their orthopaedic and trauma hospital care in the UK
Introduction: People with learning disabilities have a greater prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries than the general population and these have significant impacts on wellbeing. Despite this, orthopaedic and trauma hospital care has not been investigated with this group who seldom have their voices heard or their experiences valued and interpreted. This study contributes to the existing evidence base by exploring the experiences of people with a learning disability who have received orthopaedic and trauma hospital care. Aim: To understand the orthopaedic and trauma hospital experiences from the perspective of adults with a learning disability. Methods: A qualitative approach, focusing on peoples’ lived experiences, was utilised. A purposive sample of five participants was recruited and one-to-one, semi-structured interviews were undertaken. Analysis of the interviews employed an interpretative phenomenological analytical framework. Findings: Findings from each participant in the study was discussed in relation to their orthopaedic and trauma hospital care. A cross-case comparison was then undertaken and the themes below represent common experiences across participants: • Communication challenges • Lack of person-centred care • Issues related to pain management • Lack of confidence in hospital care • The valuable support and expertise of carers • Incompetence of hospital staff • Isolation and loneliness Discussion & conclusions: This study contributes to the evidence base by being the first to specifically focus on and provide experiential findings pertaining to the orthopaedic or trauma hospital experiences of adults with learning disabilities. There were significant shortcomings in the orthopaedic and trauma hospital experiences of adults with learning disabilities who perceived they were unsupported and received poor care in orthopaedic and trauma hospital settings. Recommendations and implications for practice: Person-centred care for adults with learning disabilities in orthopaedic and trauma hospital settings is needed along with specific education and training which includes close liaison with the experts by experience - people with learning disabilities and their carers as well as the specialists in learning disabilities.
learning disability, intellectual disability, orthopaedic, trauma, musculoskeletal, hospital care
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