Improving School Vaccinations for Adolescents With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Person-Centred...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management
• Disability Studies

Background:

• School vaccination programs are crucial for adolescent health.
• Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may face unique challenges in accessing healthcare services, including vaccinations.
• Person-centred care principles offer a framework for improving healthcare experiences and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate school vaccination for adolescents with IDD using person-centred care principles.
• To identify factors influencing the person-centredness of school vaccination programs for adolescents with IDD.
• To provide recommendations for improving vaccination uptake and experiences in this population.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical framework analysis of qualitative interview data from the Vax4Health study.
• Mapping empirical data to the principles of a Person-Centred Practice Framework.
• Identifying key influencing factors and synthesizing them into themes.

Main Results:

• Parents and students desire greater involvement in vaccination decision-making.
• Nurses possess strong motivation and empathy but require enhanced disability-specific training.
• Special schools are supportive but face challenges with resourcing and role clarity.

Conclusions:

• Applying person-centred care principles can significantly improve school-based vaccination for adolescents with IDD.
• Future research should focus on co-designing interventions with all stakeholders.
• Findings can inform implementation research for better vaccination outcomes for adolescents with IDD, their families, and healthcare providers.