Understanding medical students' knowledge and attitudes about cerebral palsy
Brianna Callahan1, Andrea Janis2, Swetha Reddi2
1Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA.
Summary
Medical students have limited knowledge of cerebral palsy (CP). A short educational video significantly improved their understanding, suggesting a potential solution for better disability education in medical schools.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Disability Studies
- Neurology
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) face significant barriers to equitable medical care.
- Physicians' limited knowledge and comfort with CP contribute to these healthcare disparities.
- Deficiencies in disability education during medical school may underlie this knowledge gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess medical students' knowledge of cerebral palsy (CP) at two US medical schools.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief educational video in improving CP knowledge among medical students.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to medical students at Wayne State University and Central Michigan University.
- Participants answered nine multiple-choice questions on CP before and after viewing a 10-minute educational video.
- Paired data from 221 surveys were analyzed to compare pre- and post-video knowledge scores.
Main Results:
- Baseline knowledge of CP among medical students was 45% ± 15%.
- Following the educational video, knowledge scores increased to 67% ± 11% (p < .01).
- The educational intervention demonstrated a statistically significant short-term improvement in CP knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Medical students possess limited knowledge regarding cerebral palsy (CP).
- A brief, targeted educational video can effectively enhance CP knowledge in the short term.
- Improving disability education in medical school is crucial for addressing CP knowledge gaps.
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