Helicobacter pylori: nurses’ perceptions of diagnosis and treatment in adults
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Helicobacter pylori: nurses’ perceptions of diagnosis and treatment in adults

Lynette Harper Senior Lecturer in Learning Disability Nursing, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, England
Phil Boulter Nurse Consultant, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Leatherhead, England
Anne Ambridge Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, England
Patricia Griffin Associate Professor and Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing, Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, England
Ann Ooms Professor and Director of Research, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, England

Why you should read this article
  • To understand how people with a learning disability may be at an increased risk of Helicobacter pylori infection

  • To increase your knowledge of actions you can take to reduce the risk of spread of H. pylori infection

  • To learn about how to improve staff knowledge of H. pylori infection, including signs and symptoms

Background Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that lives in the stomach’s gastric mucosa layer. H. pylori is a carcinogen that increases the risk of stomach and duodenum ulcers, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and stomach cancer.

Prevalence rates of H. pylori are higher in people with a learning disability than in the general population; however, despite the increased risk of H. pylori in people with a learning disability there is a lack of literature that applies specifically to this population and their families or carers.

Aim To explore issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori in people with a learning disability by examining the attitudes, beliefs, experiences and behaviours of staff working with people with a learning disability who are undergoing assessment and/or treatment for H. pylori.

Another aim of this study was to understand the barriers to using preventive strategies, completing assessments and treating H. pylori in people with a learning disability.

Method Focus groups were conducted with 16 staff members from two learning disability services. Before the focus groups, staff members were sent an information sheet with facts about H. pylori in people with a learning disability. Transcribed focus group discussions were analysed to identify themes.

Results Staff reported issues with identifying accurate prevalence figures for H. pylori in people with a learning disability in their services due to the limited number of people who had undergone assessment. Identifying the signs and symptoms of H. pylori was also challenging for staff due to communication difficulties with people with a learning disability, or because the individual had minor symptoms or was asymptomatic. Other staff said that symptoms could be attributed to the side effects of medicines.

Staff believed that people with a learning disability should be treated for H. pylori, given the associated risks of the bacterium, but that the lack of guidance on re-testing after treatment meant it was challenging to incorporate re-testing into care planning.

Conclusion Little consideration has been given to the presence of H. pylori in people with a learning disability over the past decade, despite the fact it is an important health concern that can be identified and treated. Staff, carers and people with a learning disability should discuss with their GP having a blood, stool or breath test to check for H. pylori.

Adding assessment for H. pylori to annual health checks will ensure screening becomes routine and may reduce complications or signs and symptoms, such as reflux and bloating.

Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2020.e2015

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

@Lynette70074601

Correspondence

Lynette.Harper@sgul.kingston.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Harper L, Boulter P, Ambridge A et al (2020) Helicobacter pylori: nurses’ perceptions of diagnosis and treatment in adults. Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2020.e2015

Published online: 13 February 2020

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