DO OUTPATIENT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN WALES HAVE ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

As people with an intellectual disability are resettled from instituti ons, the likelihood increases that physiotherapists working in outpati ent departments will have patients who have an intellectual disability . This study, therefore, sought to establish from a sample of 88 outpa tient physiotherapists the degree of their knowledge of the All Wales Strategy for the Development of Services for the Mentally Handicapped, the adequacy of their experience and knowledge to treat this particul ar client group effectively and their attitudes towards people with in tellectual disabilities. Although physiotherapists were generally awar e of the principles of the AWS, 88% did not know its specific objectiv es. They had very little experience and knowledge of intellectual disa bility, 77% believing themselves inexperienced. Nevertheless, a large majority held positive attitudes towards this client group and agreed in principle with integration into the community. Training with respec t to people who exhibit challenging behaviour was identified as necess ary.