Staff perceptions following a training programme about reducing psychotropic medication use in adults with intellectual disability : the need for a realistic professional practice framework

Background: Adults with intellectual disability are at higher risk of being administered psychotropic medications. The UK-developed SPECTROM (Short-term PsychoEducation for Carers To Reduce Over Medication of people with intellectual disabilities) training programme educates disability support workers on psychotropic medications and alternatives to these medications. Method: Interviews were conducted with 10 participants who took part in the pilot SPECTROM training programme to elicit their views on the programme and its appropriateness in an Australian context. Results: The key theme was ‘Need for a psychotropic medication practice framework’. Four sub-themes were Broad satisfaction with the SPECTROM training programme; Disability support workers acknowledging the limitations of their scope of practice; Empowering training through prescriptive and reflective methods and; Need for future mentoring from Multi-Disciplinary Team members in the application of new knowledge. Conclusions: Participants felt that whilst they could improve their knowledge and attitudes surrounding psychotropic medication administration for behaviours of concern through SPECTROM training, a national practice framework is needed to execute its goals at scale

Short-Term Psycho-Education for Caregivers to Reduce Overmedication of People with Intellectual Disabilities (SPECTROM): An Australian Feasibility Study

Many people with intellectual disability display behaviours of concern. Oftentimes, these are managed using a range of approaches that includes the use of psychotropic medications even though the person does not have a psychiatric diagnosis. Finding ways to reduce the use of psychotropic medication is important, and disability support workers play an important role in achieving this goal. This study trained disability support workers about psychotropic medications and alternatives to them using the SPECTROM training program and resources. Data collected included measuring disability support workers' knowledge and attitude, in addition to exploring the appropriateness of the training program. Although disability support workers' knowledge increased after the training program, their attitudes did not change. The SPECTROM training program is feasible in the Australian context despite the need for an Australian practice framework in this area