Does a one-week disability awareness training influence medical students attitudes? A French mixed-methods study
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Disability awareness training significantly improved medical students' comfort and attitudes toward people with disabilities (PWD). This practical education fostered empathy and knowledge, enhancing future physician care for PWD.
Area Of Science
- Medical Education
- Disability Studies
- Healthcare Equity
Background
- Globally, 1.3 billion individuals experience disability, making people with disabilities (PWD) integral to every medical practice.
- Medical students and physicians often report discomfort and deficits in managing PWD care, highlighting a need for targeted educational interventions.
- Existing medical curricula inadequately prepare future physicians to address the unique needs of PWD.
Purpose Of The Study
- To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive disability awareness training program on medical students' attitudes and skills regarding PWD.
- To test the hypothesis that integrated theoretical, practical, and immersive training would enhance medical students' quantitative and qualitative outcomes in caring for PWD.
Main Methods
- A monocentric prospective mixed-methods study involving 3rd-year medical students.
- Quantitative data collected via repeated surveys measuring disability attitudes in healthcare (DAHC) scores.
- Qualitative data gathered through semidirected interviews exploring students' feelings and attitudes toward PWD.
Main Results
- A significant improvement in DAHC scores was observed 3 months post-training (+1.32, p=0.003) among 218 participating students.
- Improvements were most notable in students' comfort levels during interactions and reductions in discriminatory attitudes.
- Qualitative interviews revealed a positive transition from unfamiliarity to informed empathy and knowledge, facilitated by practical experiences.
Conclusions
- Disability awareness training demonstrably enhances medical students' competence and empathy towards PWD.
- Prioritizing disability awareness training within compulsory medical curricula is crucial for improving future physician care for PWD.
- Such training is essential for fostering inclusive healthcare practices and addressing health disparities faced by PWD.
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