Research themes
Primary healthcare for people with learning disabilities
We want to improve healthcare for people with learning disabilities in primary care. People with learning disabilities experience more health problems, multimorbidity, and great barriers to healthcare.
GP surgeries do offer annual health checks to people on their learning disabilities register. These checks can vary, and people with learning disabilities and their carers report mixed experiences.
We aim to explore and understand how annual health checks can be better delivered, and health action plans communicated, understood and implemented after the health check.
Outcomes will include guidance for general practice, people with learning disabilities and their carers/supporters to enhance annual health checks and improve quality of life.
Reducing barriers to research inclusion for neurodivergent people, and people with learning disabilities
Although autistic people are usually the focus of research about neurodivergence, they are often unintentionally excluded from participating in research on wider health issues. This underrepresentation means their views and experiences are not always reflected in the evidence that informs health services.
We are working closely with autistic adults to understand how research processes can be made more inclusive and accessible. To support this, we are establishing two Listening Cafés - one online and one in collaboration with a local community support group for autistic adults. These cafés provide safe, informal spaces where autistic contributors can share their experiences, ideas, advice, priorities and concerns.
Outcomes will include co-developed guidance concerning accessible recruitment materials that are respectful and relevant to autistic communities, removing barriers to participation.
Autism, ADHD and mental health
Under this theme, we explore primary care management of common mental health problems autistic adults, adults with ADHD or those with both (sometimes called ’AuDHD’) can experience.
Around three quarters of autistic/ADHD/AuDHD adults experience mental health problems, like anxiety depression or distress. These are often supported in primary care. Mental health symptoms can be very similar to traits of autism and ADHD. This can make it hard for practitioners to know what support to offer patients. Sometimes people end up with the wrong diagnosis. Mental health support typically offered in primary care isn’t always appropriate or effective for autistic adults and those with ADHD. For some people, it can actually make them feel worse.
We are aiming to do two things:
- co-design support for autistic/ADHD/AuDHD adults’ mental health in primary care.
- co-produce guidance for primary care practitioners about supporting autistic/ADHD/AuDHD mental health.
We plan to do this through a combination of literature reviews, qualitative interviews and public involvement, using the Person-Based Approach.