Necessidades em saúde da pessoa com deficiência mental

: estratégias para a sua satisfação

Abstract

People with intellectual disabilities belong to the most vulnerable groups because of the complexity of their circumstances. Despite social and scientific developments, many do not have equal access to health care, education, employment opportunities, services appropriate to their condition, becoming victims of neglect, stigmatization, discrimination and social exclusion. Nurses can be a valuable contributor to caring for these people with a view to humane and inclusive care. The motivation to deepen knowledge in this field led to the development of a study aimed at evaluating health care needs and the impact of nursing interventions on people with intellectual disabilities enrolled in a Center for the Recovery of Disabled and Inadapted Children and Young People. The question was raised: "What are the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities, and what are the strategies for their satisfaction?”. An action-research course was developed during four academic years, each cycle corresponding to one academic year. All action research was based on four lines of action: 1) Reorganization of the institution; 2) Qualification of employees; 3) Satisfaction of special needs of customers; 4) Contribution in the training of nursing students. The results showed that clients with intellectual disabilities had needs in most "self-care requirements". Interventions to promote healthy living habits focused primarily on "universal self-care requirements", followed by "self-care development requirements" and "self-care in health
diversion". The most frequent diagnoses and nursing interventions were identified in the group of people with intellectual disabilities. It was recognized that the health gains resulting from the more evident nursing intervention were linked to health promotion projects. The use of action research was articulated with the objetives of the study, promoting the organization of nursing care, enhancing the conception of nursing care, facilitating the process of reflection, decision making and improvement of care provided, as well as encouraging the increase of scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice in the area of intellectual disability.

Date of Award	19 Jul 2021
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Margarida Maria Vieira (Supervisor)