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Date of Presentation

5-8-2025

Document Type

Article

Department

Medicine

Faculty Mentor

Eric Kurtz, PhD

Keywords

Medical Education, Attitude of Health Personnel, Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Subject Categories

Disability Studies | Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Despite growing recognition of persons with disabilities (PWDs) as an underserved population, healthcare disparities persist, often exacerbated by provider misconceptions and lack of training. This study evaluated the impact of a two-part educational module consisting of a didactic session and a panel discussion with individuals with disabilities focused on healthcare students’ knowledge and comfort in caring for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Conducted at the University of South Dakota, the sessions included pre- and post-surveys assessing attitudes, confidence, and perceived competencies. Results from 35 participants, primarily medical students, showed statistically significant improvements in 11 of 13 measured domains, including communication skills, understanding of disability experiences, and comfort discussing sensitive topics. The findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of brief, low-resource educational interventions in enhancing disability competency among future healthcare providers. The study highlights the importance of integrating disability education into medical curricula and suggests future directions for interdisciplinary and inclusive training.

Disability Lectures, Panel Discussion Improve Medical Student Attitudes, Knowledge in SD

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