Perceptions of Malaysian Clinical Healthcare Students About People With Disabilities and Correlation With Educational...

The acquisition of knowledge, skills and positive attitudes in managing people with disabilities (PWD) is essential to ensuring the provision of high-quality professional services.

This study was undertaken to determine perceptions of PWD among Malaysian students enrolled in clinical healthcare programmes and its correlation with educational experiences.

A self-administered online survey, utilising a content- and face-validated questionnaire, developed from previous literature, was conducted on all final year medical, dental, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, medical laboratory technology, medical imaging, optometry and nutrition/dietetics students of a Malaysian institution. Quantitative data was analysed via ANOVA, Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests (significance value p < 0.05).

The majority of students have previously managed patients with physical, intellectual and mental/psychological disabilities, but not those with visual and hearing impairments. There was an insignificant difference in contact with and attitude towards PWD among students representing the different programmes. Students of various programmes noted significant differences in experiences in managing patients with physical, intellectual, visual and hearing disabilities, as well as comfort level in managing patients with physical, intellectual and mental/psychological disabilities. Most dental, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nursing students felt that they received adequate training in managing PWD. Students who perceived that they received adequate training noted positive experience and comfort in managing all of the different PWD groups (p < 0.05).

The findings of this study provide useful information for the various programmes in developing an effective curriculum that prepares its graduates to manage PWD in a competent manner.