HEalth CHecks for adults with learning Disabilities (HECHID)
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN43324841 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN43324841 |
| Protocol serial number | Version 3 |
| Sponsor | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (UK) |
| Funder | Scottish Government - Change Programme (UK) |
- Submission date
- 11/11/2012
- Registration date
- 20/11/2012
- Last edited
- 29/09/2015
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
People with intellectual disabilities experience considerable health inequalities compared with the general population. They also have a different pattern of health needs, and their health needs are often not well met. To try to address this, the general practitioner contract in England and Wales has introduced payment to GPs if they conduct an annual health check with the adults with intellectual disabilities who are registered at their practice. Scotland did not introduce this, in view of the limited evidence on whether health checks are effective with this population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a practice nurse led health check for adults with intellectual disabilities, compared with usual treatment only.
Who can participate?
Adults with intellectual disabilities aged 18 years and over, registered at the participating general practices.
What does the study involve?
All participants are interviewed and have their GP records inspected at the start of the study. They are then randomly allocated to either the health check group or the usual treatment group. Participants in the health check group are offered a health check with their practice nurse. This involves filling in a health questionnaire before the appointment, then discussing this with the nurse at the appointment, and answering some more health questions, having a selected physical examination and urine test. The usual treatment group do not have a health check, they just have their usual treatment. Three, six, and nine months after group allocation, participants have another interview, and at nine months, their GP records are inspected again.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If the health check is effective, then participants in that group will benefit from it. If it is effective, then at the end of the study, the participants in the usual treatment group will also be offered a health check with their practice nurse. If the health check is not effective, then there will be no personal benefit from taking part in the study, other than informing the evidence base for health care of others in the future.
We do not anticipate any side effects to the health checks, but participants and their carers will have to give up some time to have the health check, and also to talk to the researchers.
Where is the study run from?
60 general practices in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will take part. The research team are based at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2010 to February 2013.
Who is funding the study?
The Scottish Government (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Professor Sally-Ann Cooper
Sally-Ann.Cooper@Glasgow.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
University of Glasgow
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health and Wellbeing Group
Gartnavel Royal Hospital
1055 Great Western Road
Glasgow
G12 0XH
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)141 2110690 |
|---|---|
| Sally-Ann.Cooper@glasgow.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Matched-pair cluster randomised controlled trial plus a cost-effectiveness study and a qualitative sub-study |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Practice nurse health checks for adults with intellectual disabilities: a randomised controlled trial |
| Study acronym | HECHID |
| Study objectives | Health checks with practice nurses improve the detection and management of health needs, health monitoring needs, and health promotion needs of adults with intellectual disabilities. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Research Ethics Committee - Scotland A, 25/11/2010, ref: 10/MRE00/79 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Intellectual disabilities |
| Intervention | Participants randomised to the intervention arm receive a health check with their practice nurse. The health check is a one-off procedure. It involves first the participant and their carer completing a health questionnaire, which they take with them to the appointment with the practice nurse. At the appointment with the nurse, the questionnaire is reviewed, and the nurse asks further health questions using the health check tool, completes a selected physical examination, and tests the participants urine. She then uses her clinical judgement and experience to follow through with any further appointments, investigations, or treatments that are clinically indicated, and can call upon the learning disabilities service if required. Participants randomised to the treatment as usual group do not receive a health check or any intervention above their usual treatment. Both study arms are followed up at 3, 6, and 9 months post randomisation. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Between group difference in the incidence of new health needs detected and new health needs being met during the 9 month period following randomisation (data from primary health care records interpreted at the blinded consensus meetings) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Between group difference in the extent of health monitoring needs being met (quality and outcome framework data from primary health care records) |
| Completion date | 28/02/2013 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 150 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adults with intellectual disabilities aged 18 years and over 2. Registered at one of the 60 participating practices |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Unable to obtain consent in keeping with the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act (e.g. person delines, their relative declines, they do not have a relative or welfare guardian/attorney) 2. Terminal illness 3. The person's GP considers it inappropriate to invite the adult (e.g. due to family circumstances such as a recent death of a parent) |
| Date of first enrolment | 02/12/2010 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/12/2011 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
Study participating centre
G12 0XH
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/12/2014 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
