Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) tool

WE MAKE INCLUSION HAPPEN by increasing access to resources that improve health outcomes for people with intellectual disability. 

The Comprehensive Health Assesment Program (CHAP) is a tool designed to help minimise the barriers to healthcare for people with intellectual disability by prompting health care and screening.  Developed at The University of Queensland by Professor Nick Lennox of the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, the program is used in Australia by various state governments, non-government organisations, and in other countries.

The CHAP is a two-part questionnaire designed to prompt a comprehensive health assessment for adults with intellectual disability. The first part of the questionnaire creates a comprehensive health history and is completed by a person with intellectual disability, their families and carers. The second part of the questionnaire prompts a General Practitioner (GP) to consider commonly missed, poorly managed or syndrome specific health conditions and perform a review of the person’s health.

By prompting a comprehensive health assessment for adults with intellectual disability, this tool can assist doctors make better diagnoses, provide appropriate treatment and ultimately ensure an overall better health. The CHAP requires collaboration between the person with intellectual disability, their supporter(s) and their GP.

The Office for Disability has purchased 100 CHAP tool licenses, so if you wish to utilise the CHAP tool please contact the Office for Disability via officefordisability@act.gov.au

Professor Nick Lennox speaks about the evidence behind CHAP:

Further information 

2012 article in Australian Family Physician "Comprehensive health assessments for adults with intellectual disability living in the community - Weighing up the costs and benefits" 

Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability

Publications list - Professor Nicholas Lennox

Nicholas Lennox - UQx / edX online courses and programs 

UniQuest are responsible for licensing of the CHAP on behalf of the University of Queensland