To the Editor: General practitioners play an influential role in the improved health care of people with intellectual disability (ID) through assessment, diagnosis, and development and maintenance of health plans. GPs also help patients access specialist health care and community-based services.1 Recent initiatives by the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) and Medicare Australia have been introduced to develop a national strategy for GPs and other health practitioners in their contribution to the promotion of health care for people with ID.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Lennox N, Edwards N. Lessons from the labyrinth. Views of residential care officers on barriers to comprehensive health care for adults with an intellectual disability. Brisbane: University of Queensland, 2001. http://www.som.uq.edu.au/research/qcidd/dual_diag.asp (accessed Jul 2007).
- 2. Lennox N, Bain C, Rey-Conde T, et al. Effects of a comprehensive health assessment programme for Australian adults with intellectual disability: a cluster randomized trial. Int J Epidemiol 2007; 36: 139-146.
- 3. Lennox N, Beange H, Parmenter T, et al. Health guidelines for adults with an intellectual disability. Brisbane: International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, 2002. http://www.iassid.org/pdf/healthguidelines-2002.pdf (accessed Jul 2007).
- 4. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Medicare health assessment for people with an intellectual disability. Questions and answers regarding MBS items 718 and 719. Canberra: Australian Government, 2007. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/pacd-intellectual-disability-questions-answers.htm (accessed Jul 2007).
- 5. Beange H, McElduff A, Baker W. Medical disorders of adults with mental retardation: a population study. Am J Ment Retard 1995; 99: 595-604.
- 6. Bittles AH, Petterson BA, Sullivan SG, et al. The influence of intellectual disability on life expectancy. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2002; 57: M470-M472.
- 7. Lennox N, Bain C, Rey-Conde T, et al. Effects of a comprehensive health assessment programme for Australian adults with intellectual disability: a cluster randomized trial. Int J Epidemiol 2007; 36: 139-146.
- 8. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Estimates of prevalence of intellectual disability in Australia. J Intellect Dev Disabil 2004; 29: 284-289.
The University of Queensland owns the CHAP, on which the Medicare initiative was based, and receives a licensing fee from organisations that use the CHAP. One-third of this licensing fee is paid to Nicholas Lennox.