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Background: The health-related behaviours of people with intellectual disabilities may be determined by organisational influences. This innovative study aimed to explore managers' and staffs' perspectives on organisational influences on the promotion of healthy behaviours for this population., Method: A qualitative methodology was employed. Four focus groups with staff and eleven telephone interviews with managers were undertaken across three residential services in one region (Northern Ireland) of the UK. Transcripts were analysed thematically., Findings: The organisations involved in this study did not have the cultural ethos or capacity to sustain consistent support for staff involvement in health promotion. Organisational support and outcome-focused strategies are recommended for encouraging staff involvement in health promotion activities., Conclusion: These findings have implications for some organisations that support people with intellectual disabilities in improving the way they facilitate health promotion. They highlight the need for organisational cultures to facilitate knowledge translation and embrace evidence-based health promotion interventions., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

OpenCourseWare (OCW) represents an innovative and cost-effective opportunity for institutions to take a more active role in strengthening health sciences education worldwide. OCW content can provide a supplement to curricula available in resource-rich settings, as well as provide much of the basic content critical to teaching and research in resource-limited health education environments. Educational institutions worldwide have the opportunity to explore how OCW and other open tools and materials can supplement efforts to build health education capacity to address global shortages of healthcare workers. Tufts University has worked to leverage open, digital resources to support medical education since 1994 with the creation of the Tufts University Sciences Knowledgebase (TUSK). This experience has yielded vital lessons for institutions interested in OCW, including: effectively motivating faculty participation; managing the inherent complexity of open publishing of health sciences content due to its rapidly evolving nature and reliance on copyrighted materials; generating support through internal and external communication throughout the process; and creating institutional systems that ensure the long-term sustainability of OCW initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at risk of developing long term health conditions, and a preventative health agenda research is emerging. However, little is known about the recruitment settings, delivery contexts, intervention techniques and outcomes of health promotion programmes for this population. Therefore, the aim of this review was to synthesize and evaluate these characteristics.Method: A systematic review of studies identified from multiple databases on healthy lifestyle interventions for adolescents and young people with IDD was conducted. Data were synthesized and evaluated using a logic model. Quality of rigour was also assessed.Results: Sixteen geographically diverse studies were selected and evaluated. Participants were most commonly recruited from schools, with interventions typically taking place in a gym setting and involving physical activity training.Conclusions: This review indicates that physical activity and dietary interventions in people with IDD may lead to lifestyle changes, however more robust evidence is required. Educational settings are conducive, with settings beyond schools requiring further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]