Identifying Key Gaps: A Qualitative Exploration of Physicians-in-Training Caring for Adults With Intellectual and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Disability Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Growing adult population with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) faces healthcare access challenges.
• Physician preparedness is a critical factor influencing the quality of care for adults with IDD.
• Inadequate physician training contributes to disparities in health outcomes for individuals with IDD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions, experiences, and educational needs of physicians-in-training regarding the care of patients with IDD.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to effective healthcare delivery for adults with IDD from the perspective of resident physicians.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semistructured interviews with 20 senior resident physicians.
• Thematic content analysis was used to analyze interview data and identify key themes.
• Participants were recruited from residency programs affiliated with the University of Colorado.

Main Results:

• Residents reported significant communication challenges impacting their confidence in providing quality care.
• A perceived lack of adequate skills and specialty relevance contributed to apprehension in treating patients with IDD.
• Physicians-in-training expressed a need for greater exposure and support to enhance their comfort and competence.

Conclusions:

• Resident physicians in adult specialties feel ill-equipped to manage the healthcare needs of adults with IDD.
• Limited clinical experience with this population increases anxiety and fear of errors.
• Enhanced experiential learning and robust support systems are recommended to improve resident confidence and future care quality.