Providing "ADEPT-CARE" to patients with disabilities: Implementing a health system-wide workforce education module

Disability-specific workforce education modules (WEM) are lacking in healthcare. ADEPT-CARE, a tool for approaching clinical encounters with patients with disabilities, has been an efficacious module for health professions students.

ADEPT-CARE was adapted into a WEM with the overall goal of assessing the generalizability of pilot findings among health professions students to healthcare professionals and patient-facing employees. The specific aims of this study were to (1) explore health system staff's willingness to participate in the ADEPT-CARE WEM; (2) evaluate the efficacy of ADEPT-CARE among participants; and (3) assess self-reported changes in confidence and attitudes towards patients with disabilities by key participant demographics.

All healthcare professionals and patient-facing employees at an academic medical center were invited to voluntarily participate in the WEM. Demographic data from matched pre/post-survey responses were summarized. Pre/post comparisons were analyzed using a generalized estimating equations model approach to binomial logistic regression and odds ratios.

13,164 of 14,410 eligible employees participated in the WEM (91% completion rate). 1542 participants completed both the pre- and post-surveys. After completion, participants reported increased confidence in their ability to assess a disabled patient (OR = 12.84 (9.04, 18.24), p < 0.001) and provide the same quality of care to patients with and without disabilities (OR = 5.99 (4.40, 8.14), p < 0.001).

ADEPT-CARE improved participants' self-reported confidence and attitudes towards patients with disabilities. Building upon prior work, these findings support ADEPT-CARE's potential value as a scalable intervention and its generalizability to a broad healthcare workforce.