Virtual health care for adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review.
Avra Selick, Nicole Bobbette, Yona Lunsky and 3 others
PMID 34127406WHAT IT FOUND
Virtual care can work for adults with intellectual disabilities, but success depends on having a support person present, good internet, and a quiet space.
Phone visits were often preferred over video by patients, while many found virtual care rushed or impersonal during the pandemic.
Key findings
01Technical issues were the main barrier, requiring a support person, good internet, and a quiet space for successful interactions.
02Patient acceptability was mixed: while some found it less distracting, others reported it was distressing, rushed, and impersonal.
03Caregivers reported that virtual visits allowed them to see patients in their home environment, which provided clinically important information.
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
Most included studies were small trials or pilots, with almost half having fewer than 30 participants, limiting the certainty of the findings. The review found no data on affordability or approachability, leaving a significant gap in understanding cost barriers and patient awareness of virtual options. Many studies involved care delivered from clinics with staff support, which does not reflect the reality of many adults with IDD accessing care from home without assistance. The population studied was heterogeneous, and findings from children with autism cannot be directly applied to adults with broader intellectual disabilities.
Declared interests
The work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research through a doctoral scholarship. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume virtual care is equally accessible or effective for all adults with intellectual disabilities. The review shows that success is highly dependent on having a support person present and good technology; for those living independently or in congregate settings without staff support, virtual care may increase isolation or fail entirely.