An integrative review of the hospital experiences of people with an intellectual disability: Lack of orthopaedic and trauma perspectives

Abstract

Aims: To review the empirical literature relating to the orthopaedic and trauma hospital experiences of people with intellectual disabilities (PWID).

Design: An integrative review was conducted following the steps advocated by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). Primary research studies from 2007 to 2020 which included the hospital experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities were reviewed.

Data sources: The literature searches were undertaken in 2014, 2015, 2018 and May 2020.

Review methods: The following electronic databases were searched: Academic Search Complete, Nursing and Allied Health, British Nursing Index and RCN Library archive, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) Psychological Information Database (PsychINFO), the Cochrane Collaboration Database and Google Scholar.

Results: Despite the high prevalence of musculoskeletal problems for adults with intellectual disabilities, the review found no specific literature related to orthopaedic or trauma hospital experiences. Nine studies related to PWIDs' experiences of general hospital care were included.

Conclusion: There is a gap in the empirical literature relating to orthopaedic or trauma hospital experiences of PWID. General hospital experiences of adults with an intellectual disability were poor overall.

Keywords: Hospital experience; Integrative review.; Intellectual/learning disability; Nursing; Orthopaedic; Trauma.