Accessible leaflets on psychotropic medication for people with mild intellectual disabilities developed in a coproduction method
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
de Kuijper, Gerda
Heringa, Mette
Deb, Shoumitro
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Purpose
In intellectual disability healtcare, providing accessible information on treatment proposals is a necessary part of shared decision-making. However, although the medication use of especially psychotropic drugs is high, people with intellectual disability often lack knowledge about these prescriptions. Accessible written medication information is often not available. The authors aimed to fill this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
Four individuals with intellectual disability (the panel), their coach, pharmacists and intellectual disability healthcare professionals/researchers collaborated in this inclusive research project. A coproduction method was used. The healthcare professionals/researchers developed a set of 64 Dutch leaflets on psychotropic drugs for use in people with intellectual disability based on 29 accessible English leaflets. A checklist for the panel was developed to review each leaflet draft. The drafts were adapted according to the panel’s recommendations. The final drafts were presented in a meeting of the project group and stakeholders.
Findings
The main adaptations in the drafts were textual changes, including adding headings and frequent side effects and layout changes in photos and colours. The results of the checklists and stakeholders’ feedback revealed that the quality and accessibility of the leaflets overall were very clear.
Research limitations/implications
More (inclusive) studies are needed to investigate whether the use of the leaflets is effective in improving the patients’ medication knowledge and shared decision-making.
Originality/value
Stakeholders welcomed the availability of accessible leaflets on psychotropic medication. This methodology could be used by other professionals to develop similar accessible information for their own populations.
In intellectual disability healtcare, providing accessible information on treatment proposals is a necessary part of shared decision-making. However, although the medication use of especially psychotropic drugs is high, people with intellectual disability often lack knowledge about these prescriptions. Accessible written medication information is often not available. The authors aimed to fill this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
Four individuals with intellectual disability (the panel), their coach, pharmacists and intellectual disability healthcare professionals/researchers collaborated in this inclusive research project. A coproduction method was used. The healthcare professionals/researchers developed a set of 64 Dutch leaflets on psychotropic drugs for use in people with intellectual disability based on 29 accessible English leaflets. A checklist for the panel was developed to review each leaflet draft. The drafts were adapted according to the panel’s recommendations. The final drafts were presented in a meeting of the project group and stakeholders.
Findings
The main adaptations in the drafts were textual changes, including adding headings and frequent side effects and layout changes in photos and colours. The results of the checklists and stakeholders’ feedback revealed that the quality and accessibility of the leaflets overall were very clear.
Research limitations/implications
More (inclusive) studies are needed to investigate whether the use of the leaflets is effective in improving the patients’ medication knowledge and shared decision-making.
Originality/value
Stakeholders welcomed the availability of accessible leaflets on psychotropic medication. This methodology could be used by other professionals to develop similar accessible information for their own populations.
Date Issued
2025-04-18
Date Acceptance
2025-03-23
Citation
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 2025
ISSN
2044-1282
Publisher
Emerald
Journal / Book Title
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
Copyright Statement
© Gerda de Kuijper, Mette Heringa and Shoumitro Deb Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial & non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http:// creativecommons.org/licences/ by/4.0/legalcode
Identifier
10.1108/AMHID-11-2024-0050
Subjects
accessible leaflets
intellectual disabilities
psychotropic medications
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2025-04-18