USF-LVHN SELECT
Teaching Future Physician Assistants to Provide ADEPT-CARE to Disabled Patients: A Novel Application of Disability Curriculum.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-19-2024
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Physician assistant (PA) students will be certain to provide care to patients with disabilities in their future careers. However, there is a dearth of literature on disability-related education in PA training. This curriculum sought to fill this need. The specific aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the implementation of a 3-part disability-focused education curriculum in PA education, (2) assess changes in PA students' self-perceived confidence and attitudes toward patients with disabilities, and (3) assess students' attitudes toward ADEPT-CARE.
METHODS: A 3-part disability curriculum was implemented into the first-year PA curriculum at a single Mid-Atlantic institution. Students could voluntarily complete pre and post-surveys which assessed their self-perceived confidence and attitudes toward people with disabilities, perception of the curriculum, and attitudes toward ADEPT-CARE and disability health.
RESULTS: Thirty students participated in the study, with a 100% survey response rate. Nearly all participants agreed or strongly agreed that this curriculum enhanced their medical education (n = 28, 96.6%, frequency missing n = 1). After curriculum completion, there was a statistically significant improvement in participants' confidence in their ability to assess patients with disability (46.7%-93.3%, P < 0.001), ability to provide the same quality of care to patients with disability as those without disability (80.0%-96.7%, P = 0.025), and perception of quality of life of persons with disabilities (P = 0.030).
DISCUSSION: This curriculum was well received by PA students and improved their attitudes toward patients with disabilities, thereby fulfilling a critical need for PA educators.
ISSN
1941-9449
Published In/Presented At
Smeltz, L., Whitney, L., King, T., Newcomb, N., & DeWaters, A. L. (2024). Teaching Future Physician Assistants to Provide ADEPT-CARE to Disabled Patients: A Novel Application of Disability Curriculum. The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association, 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000583. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPA.0000000000000583
Disciplines
Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
38648617
Department(s)
USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students
Document Type
Article