Date of Award

January 2022

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Medical Doctor (MD)

Department

Medicine

First Advisor

Andres Martin

Abstract

Introduction: Children with physical disabilities (CWPD) represent an important population that has historically experienced inadequate and insensitive care across medical settings. A lack of comfort and knowledge about CWPD is common among health professionals and trainees. We created and evaluated a new educational resource enhanced by videotaped clips of a model pediatric outpatient visit for a CWPD and his mother, both portrayed by simulated participants.Methods: We created a curriculum working group composed of multiple stakeholders, including patients with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and physician experts in treating disabilities. Using recommendations from the curriculum working group, we developed a didactic resource that interspersed 9 short video clips (with a cumulative duration of 27 minutes) into a 50-minute workshop given to students in the healthcare professions. We delivered the session virtually, using synchronous videoconferencing with Zoom. Learners completed assessments at baseline and after the didactic intervention that measured satisfaction, knowledge, and attitudes. We compared learners’ attitudes to published norms on existing instruments. Our primary outcome measure was change in the Attitudes to Disabled Persons - Original (ATDP-O) scale. Results: Forty-nine healthcare students participated: 29 (59%) from medicine, and 21 (41%) from physician assistant or nursing programs. The workshop proved a good fit for virtual delivery and was highly rated by students. Baseline attitudes did not differ from published norms, but ATDP-O scores improved between baseline and endpoint: from 31.2 ± 8.9 to 34.8 ± 10.1 (paired-t = 3.28, p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.38). Conclusion: This video-based educational resource proved easy to implement in the virtual classroom, was well received by learners, and led to measurable improvements in perceptions and attitudes toward CWPDs. All the didactic materials we developed are available to view, download, or adapt by end-use instructors.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

Open Access

This Article is Open Access

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