Treating Children With Physical Disabilities: A Video-Based Educational Resource Using Simulated Participants

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Disability Studies
• Healthcare Disparities

Background:

• Children with physical disabilities (CWPD) often receive inadequate and insensitive care.
• Healthcare provider trainees frequently lack comfort and knowledge regarding CWPD.
• Existing educational resources for healthcare students on CWPD are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a new, easily distributable educational resource on CWPD for healthcare students.
• To determine the efficacy of a video-based workshop in improving healthcare students' attitudes toward CWPD.
• To enhance the quality of care provided to CWPD by medical trainees.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative development process with disability community stakeholders.
• Creation of nine short video clips depicting a primary care visit with simulated participants.
• Delivery of a 50-minute virtual workshop incorporating the video resource.
• Assessment of changes in attitudes using the Attitudes to Disabled Persons-Original (ATDP-O) scale.

Main Results:

• Forty-nine healthcare students (medicine, physician assistant, nursing) participated.
• The virtual workshop delivery was effective and materials were easily distributable.
• Significant improvement in ATDP-O scores from baseline to endpoint (P=.002), indicating positive attitude change.
• Effect size (Cohen's d=0.38) suggests a moderate impact on attitudes.

Conclusions:

• A video-based educational resource effectively improves healthcare students' attitudes toward CWPD.
• The workshop is readily distributable and can be delivered virtually.
• The developed materials are available for adaptation by instructors to promote better care for CWPD.