Utilisation of Health Technologies for Physical Health of People with Learning Disabilities: Point of Care Testing

Abstract

The World Health Organisation defines health technologies as the “application of organized knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of lives.” Innovative health technologies have immense potential to improve human health and well-being. However, their advent does not guarantee equitable health outcomes. Not all individuals have equal access to health technologies resulting in different health outcomes for those individuals. Barriers to adoption, implementation, access, research and design can lead to exclusion and perpetuate the health inequalities already experienced by vulnerable or marginalised groups, for example those with intellectual disabilities (ID). Point of care testing (POCT) is a health technology used to monitor physical health and has been available for almost a decade. POCT is reported to be minimally invasive, can be conducted in a wide range of settings, enables shorter time to clinical decision making, improved self-management of health conditions and patient empowerment. Despite the benefits of POCT, adoption, use, awareness and research of the use of this technology in people with ID to monitor physical health appears to be scant. This article will explore the application of POCT in this group of individuals for whom evidence informs us die up to 25 years earlier when compared to the general population, and physical health disease account for the overwhelming majority of premature deaths. This is a narrative review exploring the use of POCT for physical health of people with ID.