Medical student program to learn from families experiencing developmental disabilities

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Developmental Disabilities
• Patient-Physician Relationship

Background:

• Patients with developmental disabilities (DDs) and their families often experience mistrust in healthcare providers due to negative interactions.
• Medical students typically lack adequate training in communicating with and diagnosing individuals with DDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the ARIE (Appreciating Relationships and Individual Experiences) program on medical students' interactions with patients with DDs and their families.
• To evaluate changes in family trust and perceptions of physician empathy and knowledge after program participation.

Main Methods:

• A service-learning model (ARIE program) involving home visits and standardized interviews was implemented for medical students.
• Data collection included surveys on family trust in physicians and student self-reported confidence levels.

Main Results:

• Families reported a general lack of strong trust in physicians and a desire for more empathetic and informed care.
• No significant change in family trust was observed post-program.
• Medical students reported increased comfort and confidence in interacting with patients with DDs and their families.

Conclusions:

• The ARIE program effectively enhances medical students' confidence and experience with patients with DDs.
• There is a persistent need to improve physician empathy and knowledge to build trust with families of individuals with DDs.
• Implementing similar service-learning models in medical schools could improve future physician preparedness for caring for patients with DDs.