• Lynne A Potvin, Casey Fulford, Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz, and Virginie Cobigo.
• Doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Ottawa in Ontario and is also a doula.
• Can Fam Physician. 2019 Apr 1; 65 (Suppl 1): S47S52S47-S52.

ObjectiveTo gain an understanding of the support needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) when scheduling, traveling to, and attending annual health examinations (AHEs).DesignQualitative study that is part of a large population-level intervention aiming to increase uptake of AHEs among adults with IDD.SettingOntario.ParticipantsA total of 8 men and 5 women with IDD took part in semistructured interviews about their personal experiences related to AHEs.MethodsThematic analysis was used to examine experiences relating to scheduling, traveling to, and attending AHEs.Main FindingsSupport emerged as the overarching theme. Support included assistance navigating the health care system (assistance scheduling AHEs, reminders to book AHEs, financial assistance, transportation) and person-centred care (respect of privacy and autonomy, communication style, kindness, compassion, rapport with physician, health advocacy, and collaboration). Barriers to this support were also identified (lack of rapport, perception of unfriendliness, perception that the physician is too busy to tend to needs, and perception that the physician did not want to perform AHEs).ConclusionFor adults with IDD, system navigation support and person-centred care were central to accessing AHEs. In collaboration with informal caregivers, physicians have an important role in reducing barriers to patients accessing this valuable preventive care opportunity. Physicians can fulfil some of the needs disclosed by adults with IDD related to attending AHEs by offering support for scheduling appointments, by linking patients with IDD to resources that facilitate appointment attendance, and by increasing consultation duration.Copyright© the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

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