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People with intellectual disability in general practice: case definition and case finding
H M van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk1, J F Metsemakers, M J Soomers-Turlings
1Pepijn Centre, Echt, The Netherlands.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|November 28, 1997
Summary
This study estimated the prevalence of intellectual disability (ID) in a general practice database, finding it to be 0.82%. It also highlighted demographic differences and documentation gaps for individuals with ID.
Area of Science:
- General Practice and Public Health
- Intellectual Disability Research
- Health Informatics
Background:
- General practice databases offer insights into population health but may underrepresent specific groups.
- Accurate identification and documentation of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are crucial for targeted healthcare.
- Previous research has explored the health needs of individuals with ID, but prevalence data from primary care settings requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of intellectual disability (ID) within a large general practice database.
- To analyze the demographic characteristics of individuals with ID in primary care.
- To assess the completeness of documentation regarding ID and associated healthcare in primary care records.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a general practice database containing 62,000 patient records.
- Utilized International Classification of Health Problems in Primary Care (ICPC) codes to identify individuals with ID.
- Calculated prevalence by including individuals residing in residential facilities and accounted for potential false positives.
Main Results:
- Identified 318 individuals with ID, representing 0.65% of the study population, with an estimated total prevalence of 0.82% when including those in residential facilities.
- Demographic analysis revealed a higher proportion of males and a lower proportion of individuals over 50 years of age among those with ID compared to the general population.
- Documentation regarding the cause and level of ID was available in approximately half of the cases, and home care usage was largely absent from records.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of intellectual disability in primary care settings is estimated at 0.82%, with distinct demographic patterns observed.
- Significant gaps exist in the documentation of ID causes, levels, and home care utilization within general practice records.
- Further research is needed to understand the reasons for incomplete documentation and to optimize the role of general practitioners in supporting individuals with ID.