From Learning to Practice: Support Workers' Experiences With the TRAIN-ID Training Programme to Strengthen Health Support for People With Intellectual Disabilities.

BACKGROUND

Support workers play a key role in everyday health support for people with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to explore how training (the TRAIN-ID programme) can strengthen support workers' competencies to meet the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

METHOD: This qualitative study explored 26 support workers' experiences with participating in the training programme through written reflections, focus groups immediately post-training and interviews three months later. Data were analysed using template analysis informed by the Kirkpatrick framework.

RESULTS

Positive experiences with the programme related to observing, discussing and following up health problems in practice. Furthermore, analysis indicates concrete pathways linking learning to intentions for behavioural change and perceived impact.

CONCLUSIONS

Training programmes that recognise support workers' roles in health support strengthen support workers' ability to identify and respond to health concerns, thereby helping to address educational gaps and improving everyday health support for people with intellectual disabilities.