Abstract Details

Title Enhancing Comfort and Readiness of Physicians Treating Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities by Facilitating Meaningful Interactions

Topic Research Methodology, �鶹��ýӳ��, and History

Presentation(s) P7 - Poster Session 7 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 13-002

Objective

1. To describe resident physicians’ discomfort treating patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

2. To evaluate the impact of an interactive conference session on resident physicians’ comfort with people with IDD.

Background Many physicians have reported that they feel uncomfortable with caring for patients with IDD. One well-established strategy for improving comfort with individuals with disabilities is “contact theory:” increasing interactions with “dissimilar” people can lead to decreased negative attitudes toward that population.

Design/Methods During an interactive, one-hour session, individuals with IDD employed at a nearby art studio spoke with small groups of resident physicians about their supported living, employment, community activities, and personal lives. The artists with IDD demonstrated their work, and the resident physicians and artists with IDD worked collaboratively on art projects. Before and after the session, resident physicians in pediatric neurology, psychiatry, and pediatrics completed a survey assessing their comfort with individuals with IDD, including the “Interactions with Disabled Persons Scale” (Gething, 1994).

Results 49 resident physicians completed the pre-conference survey. 98% of residents reportedly treated a patient with IDD. 47% reported that they have had no formal education about IDD. On a six-point scale ranging from very uncomfortable (scale =1) to very comfortable (scale =6), residents overall reported they feel “a little comfortable,” with a mean response of 4, with treating patients with IDD.
When compared to matched pre-session data available in 8 residents, 62% reported an increase in comfort treating individuals with IDD after the interactive conference.

Conclusions Our pilot study demonstrates the high frequency in which resident physicians care for patients with IDD while highlighting resident physicians’ discomfort in caring for this population. While our pilot data is limited by a small sample size, it suggests that providing real-life connections and experiences with people with IDD can increase resident physicians’ comfort in treating this population.

Authors/Disclosures
Jessica Sanders, MD (University of Colorado) PRESENTER	The institution of Dr. Sanders has received research support from Child Neurology Foundation. The institution of Dr. Sanders has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Sanders has received research support from HRSA.
Hannah Shapiro, MD (UCSF)	The institution of Dr. Shapiro has received research support from Pfizer. The institution of Dr. Shapiro has received research support from PCORI.