Grant, Nerissa, Hewitt, Olivia, Ash, Katie and Knott, Fiona (2021) The experiences of sepsis in people with a learning disability — a qualitative investigation. British Journal of Learning Disabilities . doi:10.1111/bld.12416 (In Press)

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Abstract

1.1 Background:
Sepsis is a common cause of death within the general population and the third most common cause of death for people with a learning disability, suggesting an increased vulnerability or different trajectory within this population. Despite this, there is currently no research into the direct lived experiences of people with a learning disability who develop and recover from sepsis.

1.2 Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 3 people with a learning disability (average age of 44.7, range of age 33 to 68) who experienced sepsis and 5 carers (1 familial and 4 professional carers) (average age of 48.8, range of age 43 to 58) who had supported an individual with a learning disability while they had sepsis. Sepsis was caused by a range of physical health problems. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

1.3 Findings:
Six main themes were identified: chronic and acute pre-existing health conditions, experiences within the hospital setting, physical recovery, mental recovery, returning to a normal life and the implications of sepsis.

The findings highlighted some of the ongoing difficulties for people with intellectual disabilities in accessing timely healthcare provision and the ongoing mental health problems, even after physically recovering from sepsis. People with a learning disability have more comorbid health conditions which may compound the longer-term effects of sepsis.

1.4 Conclusion:
Future research should be conducted with people with learning disabilities about their experiences shortly after recovery from sepsis, to mitigate the effects of memory difficulties in recalling experiences.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Learning disabled , Learning disabled -- Care, Learning disabled -- Health and hygiene , People with mental disabilities -- Health and hygiene , Intellectual disability -- Health and hygiene , Septicemia , Developmentally disabled , Developmentally disabled -- Health and hygiene
Journal or Publication Title:	British Journal of Learning Disabilities
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1354-4187
Official Date:	30 August 2021
Dates:	Date Event 30 August 2021 Available 13 August 2021 Accepted
DOI:	10.1111/bld.12416
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	In Press
Publisher Statement:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Grant, N., Hewitt, O., Ash, K., & Knott, F. (2021). The experiences of sepsis in people with a learning disability—a qualitative investigation. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12416. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:	Project/Grant ID RIOXX Funder Name Funder ID NIHR300501 National Institute for Health Research http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272

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