Introduction to the Decision Support Tool for Physical Health (DST-PH)

The Decision Support Tool for Physical Health (DST-PH) has been developed to help clinicians in Community Learning Disability Teams identify individuals with intellectual disabilities who are at an increased risk of dying from avoidable causes. This webpage provides guidance, resources, and support on how to use the DST-PH effectively, intending to improve long-term health outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

The DST-PH assists clinicians by identifying underlying health needs and risk factors contributing to poor health outcomes. The tool focuses on two parts to facilitate early interventions:

• Part 1 assesses nine key factors that impact physical health, such as the degree of learning disability, behavioral challenges, and untreated mental health conditions. This section is scored.
• Part 2 looks at eleven underlying health conditions, like epilepsy and respiratory issues, using a checklist to support decision-making. This section is not scored.

Upon completing Part 1, the tool assigns an overall score and stratifies individuals into three risk levels:

This risk level determines the necessary clinical interventions, as detailed further down the page. It's essential to follow the Red-Amber-Yellow rating system, which also informs the review period for reassessing the individual’s health status.

Avoiding Double Scoring

Please note that some areas of the DST-PH may be rated more than once, a practice referred to as "double scoring." This occurs when a single health condition is assessed in multiple sections. Throughout this guidance, you will find examples to help you avoid double scoring and ensure that each condition is rated only once.

Regular Reviews

Regular review of an individual’s DST-PH is crucial to ensure their physical health interventions are aligned with their current needs. The tool should be updated whenever there is a change in a person’s health status, and clinicians should ensure ongoing communication with all relevant healthcare professionals.

In addition to these instructions, the webpage provides links to further reading, resources on how to reduce health inequalities, and videos that will help you better understand and implement the DST-PH in your practice. Comprehensive support is available to help you embed this tool into everyday clinical care.

Use the guidance, documents, and videos provided here to enhance your understanding of the DST-PH and ensure the best care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.