Co-design and adaptation of the SONKS programme Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Co-design and adaptation of the Swallowing, Oral Health, Nutrition Knowledge and Skills programme for carers who support individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties
IRAS ID
346650
Contact name
Lisa O'Leary
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Edinburgh Napier University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
People with learning disabilities who have eating/drinking problems are at high risk of serious health problems including breathing difficulties and choking. The SONKS (Swallowing, Oral Health, Nutrition Knowledge and Skills) training programme was developed by speech and language therapists (Lorraine Speirs and James Reid) in NHS Forth Valley to help carers manage these difficulties. SONKS is widely used in NHS Forth Valley but we need feedback from carers about their experiences of this training to improve SONKS. This feedback would enable carers to better support people with learning disabilities to manage eating/drinking problems. This will help inform healthcare improvements for this population. We are proposing to acquire this feedback through undertaking interviews and focus groups with 12 carers, 12 people with learning disabilities and 7 professionals.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0092
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion