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COVID-19, frailty, healthcare, intellectual disability, mental health, lockdown, social participation, vaccination
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McCarron M, Allen A, McCausland D et al. The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13340.1)
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The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey
[version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
PUBLISHED 26 Aug 2021
OPEN PEER REVIEW
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Abstract
Corresponding author:
Andrew Allen
Competing interests:
No competing interests were disclosed.
Grant information:
This research was funded by the Department of Health and the Health Research Board, Ireland [IDS-TILDA-2018-1]. The individuals to whom the grant was assigned were Professor Mary McCarron and Professor Philip McCallion.
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Copyright:
© 2021 McCarron M et al.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
How to cite: McCarron M, Allen A, McCausland D et al. The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13340.1)
First published: 26 Aug 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13340.1)
Latest published: 15 Oct 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13340.2)
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
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of this article available.
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on society at large, and our understanding of this pandemic is constantly changing as research continues at a rapid pace. Besides the economic effect of ongoing lockdowns, the global death toll as of early June 2021 is estimated to be approximately 4.2 million (WHO, 2021). Although the impact of this pandemic has been devastating for many, it has been particularly severe for the more vulnerable members of society. People with an intellectual disability are an especially vulnerable group (Courtenay & Perera, 2020), and evidence from the UK and Ireland found that deaths attributed to COVID-19 occurred at a younger age for people with intellectual disability compared to the general population (Perera et al., 2020). Data from an international study (with participants predominantly from the Unites States) indicated that the case-fatality rate was similar for people with an intellectual disability overall, but was higher for those age 18–74 (Turk et al., 2020). Apart from the threat of serious illness or death, measures employed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have had an additional major effect on the lives of people with intellectual disability. People with an intellectual disability have missed social contacts, have had their daily lives altered by being unable to leave their homes, and have often found it hard to understand the preventative measures (Embregts et al., 2020). Survey respondents in Spain reported differing conditions of support for people with intellectual disability during the COVID-19 pandemic depending on living context; for example, those in family homes relied heavily on their family for support (Navas et al., 2021).
The disproportionate effect of this pandemic has led to relevant stakeholders advocating for priority for vaccinations to be given to people with intellectual disability (Hotez et al., 2021). Notwithstanding the ongoing rollout of vaccinations, at time of writing lockdown restrictions continue in Ireland, and the pandemic may have effects that persist well beyond the end of any societal restrictions. Given existing challenges in planning for long-term care for many adults with intellectual disability, the COVID-19 pandemic has further added to the vulnerability of this cohort.
The Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) was established in 2008 to study ageing in a representative sample of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland aged 40 and older. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown in mid-March 2020, all data collection for Wave 4 of IDS-TILDA, which was ongoing at that time, was suspended. However, ethical approval was obtained in May 2020 to complete Wave 4 data collection by remote interviewing (by phone/video) rather than face-to-face and for the addition of a supplemental COVID-19 survey to investigate the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on the IDS-TILDA participants.
This initial IDS-TILDA COVID-19 survey, conducted between May and September 2020, found no deaths from COVID-19 among participants (McCarron et al., 2020; McCarron et al., 2021). Seven hundred and ten participants completed the COVID-19 questionnaire, out of 739 enrolled in Wave 4, a 96% response rate. Participants were aged over 40, with all levels of intellectual disability represented. A majority (62.4%) had been tested for COVID-19, although only 10% reported COVID-19-like symptoms and only 2.5% tested positive. These findings were despite high rates reported of chronic conditions associated with worse outcomes for COVID-19, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Of those participants who tested positive or had symptoms, over three-quarters had a plan in place to manage self-isolation according to guidelines, although one third were unable to comply with these guidelines. Most participants (58%) indicated there had been positive aspects to the lockdown (for example, trying new activities, more rest and relaxation), but 55% indicated they had experienced stress/anxiety, with most common reasons being not being able to do usual activities, not being able to see family/friends and fear of contracting COVID-19. The full report (including an accessible version) is available at: https://idstilda.tcd.ie/wave4/launch.php
There is a need for additional data collection. Ireland has had an extended, restrictive lockdown since January 2021, although a national vaccination program has been progressing, with over 1.4 million people in Ireland having received at last one vaccine dose at the time of writing. It is important to understand the impact of extended lockdown and the experience of vaccination for individuals ageing with an intellectual disability by repeating the questions from the first survey, and asking additional questions on mental health consequences, changes suggesting increased frailty and/or “long COVID”, and access to and experience of vaccination. The questions intended to be asked are an opportunity to gather data that is comparable to questionnaires being completed with other populations and in other countries.
Protocol
Ethical approval
Ethics approval has been received from the National Research Ethics Committee (Application number: 20-NREC-COV-050-AMEND-2).
Participants
The National Intellectual Disability Database was originally used, with support from the Health Research Board, to anonymously recruit a representative sample of adults with an intellectual disability aged 40 years or older for IDS-TILDA. For Wave 4 the sample was refreshed from the same source (McCarron et al., 2020). The sample for this follow-up survey will again consist of participants in Wave 4. At time of writing, 725 participants from the original Wave 4 sample of 739 are surviving, and all will be invited to take part in the second COVID-19 survey. The questionnaire is openly available at the following link: https://idstilda.tcd.ie/data/datacollectiontools/
Survey development
Existing questionnaires on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic were consulted in the preparation of the current survey. The research team obtained feedback from the International Scientific Advisory Committee and drew on work with international collaborators including the T21RS (Trisomy 21 Research Society) group (https://www.t21rs.org/covid-19/). The research team also consulted with the Steering Committee at the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, who provided feedback that was incorporated into the survey. As public and patient involvement (PPI) remains central to IDS-TILDA, a consultation session on the proposed questions was held with adults with intellectual disability. The adults, members of the Inclusive Research Network, provided perspectives of their lived experience of the pandemic which informed aspects of the protocol.
Measures
The questionnaire (see Participants for link to the full questionnaire) will contain the following sections:
1. Health and COVID-19
Items gathered will include a rating of overall health (Likert scale, adapted from TILDA’s COVID-19 survey; Ward et al., 2021); five items from the “physical health problems” section of the Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory (EPII; Grasso et al., 2020); symptoms of COVID-19 and their duration; frequency of COVID-19 testing and results of tests (from first IDS-TILDA COVID-19 questionnaire; McCarron et al., 2020, updated for more recently identified symptoms of COVID-19 and “long COVID”, i.e. COVID-19 lasting longer than 12 weeks); and contact with others who had COVID-19 (adapted from TILDA’s COVID-19 survey).
2. Responding to COVID-19
Questions will establish if the participant moved from their home as a result of COVID-19 concerns; was there a plan to manage self-isolation; did hospitalisation/admission to intensive care (first IDS-TILDA COVID-19 questionnaire), household quarantine, and/or limiting of physical closeness with loved ones occur (from “physical distancing and quarantine” section of EPII); and whether participant received accessible information and how easy it was to understand on a four-point Likert scale (new items).
3. Infection control behaviours
Personal responses to improve infection control will be assessed using five items (e.g. “did you wash your hands more frequently than usual”) (adapted from TILDA’s COVID-19 survey).
4. Mental health during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown
As well as asking for a rating of overall mental health (Likert scale, adapted from TILDA’s COVID-19 survey), other items will address causes of stress/anxiety (first IDS-TILDA COVID-19 questionnaire); anxiety (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006, and Glasgow Anxiety Scale; Mindham & Espie, 2003); loneliness (UCLA loneliness scale; Russell et al., 1980); depression (PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001); and whether the participant was able to access supports for mental health (new item).
5. Contact with others
Established items will ask for information on contact with family/friends in person; in writing or via technology (adapted from IDS-TILDA Wave 4); reduced hours of work/day service (adapted from “work and employment” section of the EPII); arguments/physical conflict at home (adapted from “home life” section of the EPII); and social activities (“social activities” section of the EPII).
6. Life events
Data will be gathered on major life events and level of stress caused (none/a little/a lot; adapted from Hermans & Evenhis, 2012, and IDS-TILDA Wave 4 study); death of a person close to participant due to COVID-19 (Hatton, personal communication).
7. Positive aspects of the COVID-19 period
A series of questions will investigate positive aspects experienced during the COVID-19 period. (adapted from first IDS-TILDA COVID-19 questionnaire and EPII).
8. Frailty
Standardized questions will gather information on changes in strength; mobility; falls; weight; new diagnoses (adapted from SARC-F, Woo et al., 2014; and FRAIL scale items, Morley et al., 2012).
9. Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare utilisation
Addressing healthcare utilization questions will ask about appointment cancellations; whether health practitioners are usually seen once a year, and whether this occurred since pandemic (adapted from TILDA COVID-19 questionnaire); information on new healthcare appointments (based on consultation with Inclusive Research Network); changes in medication and health supplements (adapted from TILDA COVID-19 questionnaire).
10. Vaccinations
A new area for data gathering, questions will address whether easy read information was received and how easy it was to understand; whether vaccine was received; which vaccine; date(s) of dose(s); what it means to the individual to have received the vaccine; side effects reported and their duration; location where vaccine was received and its convenience and whether someone known to participant accompanied them; and willingness to receive the vaccine (if vaccine has not been received) and, if not, the reason why not (new items).
11. Final questions
Open-ended questions will seek insights on the general impact of the pandemic on the individual’s life and about their most anticipated activity following the end of the pandemic (new items).
Procedure
Building on the first IDS-TILDA COVID-19 survey and previous waves of the longitudinal study, field researchers will be trained to administer the survey sensitively and consistently. Following information on the background to IDS-TILDA and the COVID-19 survey, they will be instructed on their roles and responsibilities. They will be given training in the use of the survey software. Training on re-affirming consent, maintaining confidentiality and data protection will be provided, as well as instruction on what to do if there are serious concerns about a participant’s mental health. The field researchers will be given the opportunity to roleplay the survey to practice its administration.
All participants will be contacted and their participation requested. Participants will either complete the survey by themselves, with help from someone who can assist them in answering the questions, or a proxy will respond on their behalf where the participant is unable to respond to the questions themselves. Consent will be reaffirmed verbally with participants before the survey begins. Written consent/assent was previously obtained for all participants to take part in Wave 4 of IDS-TILDA. A system of process consent will be in place, whereby the field researchers will check at regular intervals during the interview whether the participant is happy to continue participation, and will be alert to signs that the participant may not wish to proceed with further questions. The participants will be reminded at the outset that they are not obliged to answer any specific questions they do not wish to, and can withdraw from the interview at any point. A consent declaration was obtained from the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee to facilitate the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disability. Easy read materials will be developed to assist participants in responding to the questions. Pilot testing with a research assistant with intellectual disability has indicated that the survey should take approximately 45–60 minutes to complete. The survey will be conducted via telephone/video call, and interviewers will enter the survey data into a software system.
Data analysis and statistical plan
Descriptive statistics will be calculated to describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the IDS-TILDA participants. Significance testing will help determine the level of differences between the first and second questionnaires where items are in common.
Dissemination plan
A report will be prepared on the results of this survey, similar to that which described the results of the previous survey (McCarron et al., 2020). Updates will be provided to relevant stakeholders including the Department of Health. Results of this survey will also be published in academic journals, presented at academic conferences, and included in a webinar presentation on COVID-19 and people with ID offered by the authors.
Discussion
Among the key findings of our first survey, conducted from May-September 2020, were that most participants had been tested for COVID-19 but very few tested positive, there were no reports of participant mortality due to COVID-19, and a slight majority of participants reported positive aspects of the lockdown, but a similar proportion reported feeling stress/anxiety. The results of this second survey are likely to enhance our understanding of the impact over time of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland. The survey will enhance our knowledge of infection control behaviours, the impact of the lockdown on social interaction and loneliness, and risk factors such as frailty and stressful life events. This survey will probe in greater depth about physical and mental health, as well as the level and nature of healthcare utilisation during the pandemic. The findings of this second questionnaire will be further enriched by information gathered on vaccination, including rates of vaccination, which vaccines are being employed, and what it means for people ageing with an intellectual disability to have received the vaccine. There are already similar research efforts underway in other countries and it will be important to compare findings as well as identify issues that have been unique to Ireland.
Notwithstanding the progression of vaccination, there may also be long-lasting effects of the pandemic and associated lockdowns, whether through “long COVID” or the psychosocial consequences of long periods of isolation from family or friends and the disruption of daily life including day services and social activities. The findings here will provide a first picture of such experiences of people with intellectual disability in Ireland, and will inform rehabilitative models to support people post-lockdown, as well as informing the rebuilding of services (e.g. can an increasing engagement with communication technology be used to enhance healthcare provision and reduce loneliness). The first survey already provided an evidence base for the prioritisation of vaccinations for people with an intellectual disability in Ireland. Although some lockdown measures are currently being lifted in Ireland, the possibility that more restrictive rules may later be introduced (e.g. due to new strains of the coronavirus) cannot be ruled out, and so planning for future lockdowns is required. At time of writing, planning is underway for Wave 5 IDS-TILDA, which will include an opportunity to gather more detailed information on the health and well-being of participants who experienced the pandemic and to further assess the long-term consequences of the pandemic.
Study status
Data collection is currently underway for this study. We anticipate that data collection will be complete by the end of August 2021.
Data availability
No participant data are associated with this article.
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McCarron M, Allen A, McCausland D et al. The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved] HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13340.1)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
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A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
Version 1
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PUBLISHED 26 Aug 2021
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How to cite this report:
Lunsky Y. Reviewer Report For: The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.21956/hrbopenres.14528.r30146)
The direct URL for this report is:
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30146
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30146
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation.
Reviewer Report 21 Sep 2021
Approved
VIEWS 17
This is a very timely protocol, building off a unique cohort study of older adults with intellectual disabilities. The authors provide a strong justification and overview for their study, which is essentially a more in depth follow-up of the pandemic experience
... Continue reading
CITE
HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Lunsky Y. Reviewer Report For: The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.21956/hrbopenres.14528.r30146)
The direct URL for this report is:
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30146
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30146
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
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Author Response 15 Oct 2021Andrew Allen, Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland15 Oct 2021Author ResponseWe thank this reviewer for their positive appraisal of the article and for their approval.
This reviewer has noted a number of possible additions/changes that could be benefit the ... Continue reading
COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT
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Author Response 15 Oct 2021Andrew Allen, Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland15 Oct 2021Author ResponseWe thank this reviewer for their positive appraisal of the article and for their approval.
This reviewer has noted a number of possible additions/changes that could be benefit the ... Continue reading
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15
How to cite this report:
Carfi A. Reviewer Report For: The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.21956/hrbopenres.14528.r30144)
The direct URL for this report is:
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30144
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30144
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in this citation.
Reviewer Report 13 Sep 2021
Approved
VIEWS 15
The manuscript outlines the methodology by which the second wave of a survey dedicated to assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on adults with intellectual disabilities will be conducted. The topic is of great interest as the impact of
... Continue reading
CITE
HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Carfi A. Reviewer Report For: The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. HRB Open Res 2021, 4:95 (https://doi.org/10.21956/hrbopenres.14528.r30144)
The direct URL for this report is:
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30144
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/4-95/v1#referee-response-30144
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
-
Author Response 15 Oct 2021Andrew Allen, Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland15 Oct 2021Author ResponseWe thank this reviewer for their positive appraisal of the article and for their approval.
As there are no issues to be addressed reported by this author, we have ... Continue reading
COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT
-
Author Response 15 Oct 2021Andrew Allen, Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland15 Oct 2021Author ResponseWe thank this reviewer for their positive appraisal of the article and for their approval.
As there are no issues to be addressed reported by this author, we have ... Continue reading
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Approved - the paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
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A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approved - fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
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