DCU and SOI announce launch of SOPHIE

Dublin City University and Special Olympics Ireland today announced the launch of a unique All-Ireland research project into the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability. The project, SOPHIE (Special Olympics Programme Health Impact Evaluation) is funded by the Iris O’Brien Foundation, and will take two years to complete. The findings are expected to be of particular benefit to the families, carers and participants of SOI activities.

The launch was announced at a special event in DCU where both DCU and Special Olympics Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding, under which they agreed to collaborate in areas of research, the sharing of facilities and expertise and the promotion of volunteerism among DCU staff, students and alumni.

Speaking at the event, DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith, said, “We are delighted to confirm our continued collaboration with Special Olympics Ireland through SOPHIE, which is yet another example of DCU’s commitment to promote and encourage social inclusion and diversity. Our research expertise in the DCU School of Nursing and Human Sciences will contribute in a meaningful way to our understanding of the health and well-being of people with intellectual disability. In addition, through our Memorandum of Understanding, DCU will continue to work with Special Olympics Ireland on a range of mutually beneficial collaborations”.

Matt English, Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics Ireland, said, “We recognise the clear need for more information on the impact of its programmes on the lives of its athletes, their families and the communities in which they live. For Special Olympics Ireland, research of this nature will allow us to understand more deeply the ‘change’  it helps create at a personal, family, community and societal level. SOPHIE will also facilitate a clearer  understanding of  the elements of the Special Olympic programmes that are making the greatest contribution to this change process.“  
 
The lead investigator of SOPHIE is Dr Mary Rose Sweeney. The project is a collaboration between the School of Nursing and Human Sciences and the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU, Mr Peter Griffin from Queens University, Belfast, and health economist Dominic Trépel from the Centre of Health Economics, University of York.

The study which will involve the recruitment of 500 participants, 300 of whom are involved in SOI programmes. They will be asked to complete questionnaires on their health and wellbeing, their health service use, their diet and physical activity levels. Measurements such as weight, height, waist circumference and physical fitness will be recorded.  Family carers will also be asked to complete questionnaires on their health, overall wellbeing and use of the health services.  Focus group work will also be undertaken with athletes, family members and care staff.

Dr Sweeney said, “In addition to extensive questionnaire  and physical measurements, our investigation will provide us with important qualitative information, giving us a better  understanding of the benefits, impacts and experiences of taking part in SOI programmes. In particular, we are keen to explore the societal barriers to participation, which will provide us with useful insights into non-involvement by families of individuals with intellectual disability”.