The Development of an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Prevention Model for Children with Intellectual Developmental Disorder among Caregivers in a Shelter

Abstract

This technical action research aimed to develop and study the effect of an upper respiratory tract infection prevention model for children with intellectual developmental disorder among caregivers in a shelter. The samples were three chief officers and 21 caregivers. The research instruments consisted of an upper respiratory tract infection prevention temporary model for children with intellectual developmental disorder among caregivers in a shelter, a caregiver personal data record form, an upper respiratory tract infection preventive behavior assessment form with reliability of .77, a behavior observation record form, and an occurrence of upper respiratory tract infection record form. The implementation and data collection were conducted from November, 2019 to July, 2020. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test.

The research results revealed that 1) the upper respiratory tract infection prevention model consisted of (1) the establishment of policy to control and prevent upper respiratory tract infection, and (2) regulation of upper respiratory tract infection prevention; 2) after the development of a model, caregivers had statistically significantly higher mean score of upper respiratory tract infection preventive behavior than that of before the development of a model (t = 32.340, p < .001); and 3) after the development of a model, the occurrence of upper respiratory tract infection was lower than that of before the development of a model.

This research suggests that the chief officers should establish the appropriate policies of upper respiratory tract infection prevention for children with intellectual developmental disorder among caregivers in a shelter as well as promote upper respiratory tract infection preventive behavior.