Development, use and evaluation of a web based mental capacity assessment tool for staff working with people with learning disabilities

Development, use and evaluation of a web based mental capacity assessment tool for staff working with people with learning disabilities Karen Dodd, Sai-Bo Cheung, Ashley Chapman Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- This paper aims to describe the development, use and evaluation of a web-based mental capacity assessment tool (MCA WAT) within the Learning Disabilities division of a Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Trust in England.The MCA WAT was developed to ensure there was contemporaneous recording of each capacity assessment; help staff improve their knowledge, confidence and satisfaction in completing assessments of capacity; and analyse the number and type of capacity assessments completed. Three questionnaires were developed: a 12-item multiple-choice knowledge questionnaire, a nine-item confidence questionnaire and a 10-item satisfaction questionnaire, which reflect the five core principles of the MCA (2005). Eight-five health and social care staff who were trained to use the MCA WAT and had used it at least once had their scores from pre- and post-use of the questionnaires analysed using Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests. Data on the use of the MCA WAT was analysed.Results showed a significant increase in knowledge, confidence and satisfaction from pre- to post-questionnaires. Concerns remain regarding staff understanding of who is the decision maker and the use of communication aids to enhance capacity...
Source: Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities - Category: Disability Authors: Source Type: research