Course Overview

This Ausmed Course gives learners a foundational understanding of providing individualised care to a person living with a developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Topics

• The prevalence of developmental disabilities
• Understanding the unique needs of this population group
• Individualised and patient-centred care strategies
• Understanding relevant pharmacological treatments
• Providing proactive care and holistic discharge planning

Need

People with developmental disabilities have a higher prevalence of chronic disease, a shorter life expectancy, higher morbidity and mortality rates, and are twice as likely as the general population to die from preventable causes. Additionally, people with developmental disabilities are hospitalised more frequently and at younger ages, and have significantly longer hospital stays than those without disabilities.

Furthermore, within interdisciplinary teams, there is a high prevalence of ineffective communication and collaboration, which can lead to patient dissatisfaction, misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, medication errors, injury or death.

Despite these stakes, there are few best-practice guidelines and recommended nursing interventions available for professionals to refer to. It is this overall lack of knowledge and understanding of developmental disabilities that needs addressing.

Without more targeted education regarding caring for people with developmental disabilities for all healthcare professionals, there will continue to be gaps in the care provided, thus furthering negative health outcomes for this patient group.

Purpose

The purpose of this Ausmed Course is to offer a foundational understanding of the key challenges faced by people living with developmental disabilities. It specifically focuses on the higher need for interdisciplinary care to enhance the experience of this population. Moreover, it aims to equip those involved in the care of people with developmental disabilities with the knowledge and strategies needed to enhance their capabilities in meeting their care needs.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the intersection between disability and health.
• Describe the role and value of the interdisciplinary team, both individually and collectively, throughout the care journey of people with developmental disabilities.
• Differentiate between proactive and reactive care in addressing the health needs of people with developmental disabilities.
• Develop the mindset and the skills to provide considered and individualised care for people with developmental disabilities in all health settings.

Target Audience

Nurses and other healthcare professionals looking to increase their understanding of the variety of roles involved in caring for a person with developmental disabilities.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educators

Presented by

Paul Nguyen View profile

Dr. Paul Nguyen is a Medical Educator at Monash University, member of the Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Group at the Royal College of General Practitioners and a former Developmental Disability Medical Specialist for the Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria. During his time as a GP, he focussed mainly on mental health, including practising clinical hypnotherapy, and Focussed Psychological Strategies (predominantly focussing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Paul identifies as a secular Buddhist and a flexitarian, which demonstrates his refusal to be easily categorised, a trait that has given him the empathy and experience to provide care for people whose needs are neither simple nor uniform.

Peer reviewed by

Natalie Conley View profile