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Medical students attitudes towards patients with disability: a scale validation study
Vanda G Yazbeck Karam1, Sandrella Bou Malhab2,3, Sola Bahous1
1School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
BMC Medical Education
|October 29, 2024
Summary
This study validated the Medical Students' Attitudes Towards Patients with Disabilities (MSA-PWD) scale in Lebanon. The reliable and valid scale can differentiate between medical student enrollment years and assess attitudes towards patients with disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Disability Studies
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Negative attitudes and discrimination by healthcare professionals contribute to health disparities for persons with disabilities (PWD).
- Limited training for medical students on interacting with PWD exacerbates these issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the "Medical Students' Attitudes Towards Patients with Disabilities" (MSA-PWD) scale among Lebanese medical students.
- To identify factors associated with medical students' attitudes towards patients with disabilities.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional scale validation study was conducted with 1st to 4th-year medical students.
- Qualitative content validity and statistical analyses (construct, convergent, known-group validity, trend analysis) were employed.
- The study incorporated existing tool questions and new reflective prompts on PWD encounters.
Main Results:
- The MSA-PWD scale demonstrated high construct validity and internal consistency.
- Good convergent validity and known-group validity were observed.
- Factor 1 of the scale differentiated between student enrollment years and correlated with confidence and clinical experience.
Conclusions:
- The validated MSA-PWD scale is a comprehensive and reliable instrument for assessing medical students' attitudes towards patients with disabilities.
- The scale effectively distinguishes between different medical school enrollment classes.
- This tool can inform curriculum development to improve future healthcare for PWD.
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