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Understanding physicians' attitudes toward people with Down syndrome
Jill E Pace1, Mikyong Shin, Sonja A Rasmussen
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A
|May 17, 2011
Summary
Physician attitudes toward people with Down syndrome (DS) vary. While most are comfortable providing care, some hold beliefs favoring segregation, highlighting a need for targeted training to improve physician support for individuals with DS.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Disability Studies
- Healthcare Professional Education
Background:
- Physician attitudes significantly impact the lives of individuals with Down syndrome (DS).
- Limited research exists on healthcare providers' perspectives regarding people with DS.
- Understanding these attitudes is crucial for improving care and support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess US physicians' attitudes toward people with Down syndrome (DS).
- To examine physicians' opinions on inclusive settings and their comfort levels in providing medical care to individuals with DS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2008 DocStyles(©) online survey of US physicians.
- Survey included questions on inclusive education, workplace integration, prior relationships with people with DS, and comfort in providing medical care.
- Analyzed responses regarding opinions on special schools, classroom distractions, and comfort levels with DS patient care.
Main Results:
- 20% of physicians supported special schools for students with DS; nearly 25% found them distracting in regular classrooms.
- 76% of physicians felt comfortable providing medical care to people with DS, while 9.8% felt uncomfortable and 14.3% neutral.
- Positive attitudes towards inclusion and comfort in care were more prevalent among non-Hispanic white physicians, those with prior relationships with people with DS, pediatricians, and those in group/hospital settings.
Conclusions:
- Physician attitudes towards Down syndrome (DS) reveal a need for enhanced training and education.
- Findings suggest disparities in attitudes based on physician demographics and professional background.
- Data can inform the development of targeted curricula for healthcare providers to improve care for individuals with DS.
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