An Ongoing Process: The Implementation of an Intervention for People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Over Time.
Josien Schaafsma, Annet Ten Brug, Annette van der Putten
PMID 40667724WHAT IT FOUND
Professionals supporting people with profound disabilities kept using the programme's broad goals and vision years after training.
But they often skipped the specific short-term goals and cross-team collaboration the method requires. This gap between big-picture agreement and daily precision is where the intervention drifts.
Key findings
01Almost all respondents reported using personal profiles and long-term goals, but nearly half of direct support professionals said they never or sometimes set short-term goals.
02Professionals collaborated more within their own disciplines than across them, with about one third rarely consulting colleagues from other fields or relatives about long-term goals.
03Organisations that had used the intervention for two or more years reported significantly more barriers, particularly regarding lack of time, staff, and feedback on progress.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (62 respondents) and drawn from a specific network of organisations that may be more motivated or resourced than average. The study relied entirely on self-reported data, which may reflect what professionals think they should be doing rather than what they actually do. Relatives were not included in the survey, despite being a core part of the intervention's interdisciplinary model. The organisations studied were largely large-scale residential facilities, so findings may not apply to smaller community or educational settings.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by ZonMw.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high agreement on broad principles as evidence that the intervention is being delivered as designed. The study shows a significant drop-off in the precise, daily actions like setting and reviewing short-term goals, meaning the intervention may be present in name but diluted in practice.