Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Access to health care for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparison between two Italian realities and proposal of an awareness-raising tool. |
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| Name | Ilariucci Viola |
| Supervisor(s) | Nava Letizia |
| Academic Year | 2020/21 |
| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
Abstract
The issue of access to health care for people with intellectual disabilities is poorly considered in public health and poorly investigated in the scientific literature. The rights of people with disabilities occupy a central position in the national and EU legislation, nevertheless their safeguard and actual application across society must not be taken for granted. This work aims to show what are the difficulties that people with intellectual disabilities have to face in a hospital, and what solutions might be adopted in order to address such problems. Healthwise, when it comes to treating an acute pathological condition, the needs of a person with intellectual disability do not differ from those of any other patient. It is true, though, that there lies the necessity of delivering care through non-standardised ways. The work of two different Italian realities will be discussed as a virtuous example of how to efficiently respond to the health care needs of people with disabilities. This study found out that, when delivering care to this subgroup of patients, special attention should be paid to customising treatment and building a trustful relationship with the patient, even when cognitive and/or sensorial limits are present. It must be born in mind that the relationship with the patient becomes compromised if the tools designed to reduce the handicap are not used. A nurse, whose job requires the presence of a therapeutical relationship with the patient, plays a major role when it comes to delivering health care to people with disabilities. That is further supported by the fact that both the Code of Ethics of Nursing and the Nurse’s Job Profile clearly state that a nurse’s responsibility is also to eliminate social and health inequalities. Two tools to raise awareness on this matter among health professionals are presented: a pamphlet and a poster.