The Healthy Plans Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing recommendations to enhance health actions plans in primary care for people with a learning disability.
IRAS ID
350084
Contact name
Jane Vennik
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
What do we know already?
People with learning disabilities can have more health problems and may not live as long as people without learning disabilities. GP surgeries offer people a health check each year to find out about any health problems and to make a health action plan to help them keep healthy. However, these checks vary between GP surgeries, and people with learning disabilities report mixed experiences. Carers often accompany people to appointments, but they can be unsure of their role and how they should support people to understand, interpret and implement their health plan and manage their health afterwards.
What would we like to find out?
We would like to find out how health action plans are created, talked about, understood, and put into practice after the annual health check for people with learning disabilities.How will we find this out?
1. We will ask up to 20 GPs and other staff to take part in an interview to find out how GP surgeries carry out health checks and make a health action plan for people with learning disabilities.
2. We will ask 8-10 people with learning disabilities (with the option of support by their carer) to find out what they think about their health check and health action plan, and how they implement the plan in their daily lives.
How will we involve patients and the public?
This study was developed after talking to people at the Minstead Trust in Hampshire, and NHS staff working to improve health checks in GP surgeries. During the project I will bring together people with learning disabilities, family carers and professional support staff (PPI group), to work with the research team to make sure that the project meets the needs of people with learning disabilities.What will the impact of our results be?
Our research findings will be used to develop a list of things that GP practice staff and carers can do to support people with learning disabilities to understand the role and importance of their annual health check, and how best to implement their health plans in their daily lives.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0184
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion