A qualitative study of healthcare needs and barriers assessment for persons with intellectual disabilities

Objectives: The health care needs and problems of persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) have received limited attention in the health care system of Taiwan, and have been largely over-looked in the current health policy debate. The purpose of this study is to identify the health care needs of persons with ID based on the perspective of their main carers. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted for 14 key informants in the study. The interview questions were open-ended and an interviewing guide was designed to encourage participants to share their experiences of working with and caring for people with ID. The interview questions covered four themes as follows: (1) What are the health needs of people with ID? (2) What are the problems regarding the health care services of people with ID and why? (3) What are the problems regarding the current health care system and National Health Insurance Plan for people with ID? (4) What is your ideal health care system for people with ID and why? Results: The research findings showed that the illness prevalence and health care utilization of people with ID were higher than the general population but their health care needs were not being properly met. The ideal health systems for people with ID were beyond the informants imagination and expectation. Conclusions: To ensure that people with ID enjoy the same rights as the general population, appropriate health care services suited to their needs are critical to the success of efforts to improve the quality of life for people with ID.