ERIC Number: EJ983948
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Apr
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1934-9556
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Available Date: N/A
Transformation through Health Teaching for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Qualitative Study
Focht-New, Ginny
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, v50 n2 p129-139 Apr 2012
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have medical conditions similar to those among the general population but with more complex presentation, a extended life expectancy, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. These adults' health education has been inadequate. In this qualitative study, the author describes the experiences of 23 registered nurses who provide health teaching to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, selection of and health topics taught, and teaching activities put into practice. The author used a rigorous descriptive, naturalistic inquiry design with purposive (n = 22) and snowball (n = 1) sampling. Data were gathered through individual interviews, focus groups, and nonparticipant observations, and analyzed with a constant comparative method. Findings concerned the educators' developmental process, use of a social context to teach, and health-teaching activities. Registered nursess described their transformation from insecure, novice health educators to confident and passionate educators of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Findings apply to multiple disciplines.
Descriptors: Health Education, Adult Educators, Teaching Methods, Social Environment, Developmental Disabilities, Novices, Mental Retardation, Child Health, Focus Groups, Adults, Nurses, Diseases, Access to Education, Inquiry, Interviews, Observation, Instructional Effectiveness, Context Effect
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. P.O. Box 7065, Lawrence, KS 66044-7065. Tel: 785-843-1235; Fax: 785-843-1274; e-mail: AJMR@allenpress.com; Web site: http://aaiddjournals.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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