1
|
Smeltz L, Whitney L, King T, Newcomb N, DeWaters AL. Teaching Future Physician Assistants to Provide ADEPT-CARE to Disabled Patients: A Novel Application of Disability Curriculum. J Physician Assist Educ 2024; 35:193-197. [PMID: 38648617 DOI: 10.1097/jpa.0000000000000583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Smeltz
- Lydia Smeltz, BA, is a medical student, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C, is an associate dean, program director & assistant professor, Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Tonya King, MS, PhD, is an adjunct professor, Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Nora Newcomb, BA, is a medical student, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
- Ami L. DeWaters, MD, MSc, is an associate professor of Medicine, Director Health Systems Science at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Larissa Whitney
- Lydia Smeltz, BA, is a medical student, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C, is an associate dean, program director & assistant professor, Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Tonya King, MS, PhD, is an adjunct professor, Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Nora Newcomb, BA, is a medical student, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
- Ami L. DeWaters, MD, MSc, is an associate professor of Medicine, Director Health Systems Science at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Tonya King
- Lydia Smeltz, BA, is a medical student, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C, is an associate dean, program director & assistant professor, Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Tonya King, MS, PhD, is an adjunct professor, Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Nora Newcomb, BA, is a medical student, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
- Ami L. DeWaters, MD, MSc, is an associate professor of Medicine, Director Health Systems Science at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Nora Newcomb
- Lydia Smeltz, BA, is a medical student, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C, is an associate dean, program director & assistant professor, Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Tonya King, MS, PhD, is an adjunct professor, Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Nora Newcomb, BA, is a medical student, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
- Ami L. DeWaters, MD, MSc, is an associate professor of Medicine, Director Health Systems Science at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Ami L DeWaters
- Lydia Smeltz, BA, is a medical student, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Larissa Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C, is an associate dean, program director & assistant professor, Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Tonya King, MS, PhD, is an adjunct professor, Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Nora Newcomb, BA, is a medical student, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
- Ami L. DeWaters, MD, MSc, is an associate professor of Medicine, Director Health Systems Science at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tang C, Chen X, Guan C, Fang P. Attitudes and Response Capacities for Public Health Emergencies of Healthcare Workers in Primary Healthcare Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Investigation Conducted in Wuhan, China, in 2020. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12204. [PMID: 36231505 PMCID: PMC9564888 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Response capacities for public health emergencies (PHEs) amongst healthcare workers play important roles in the prevention and control of PHEs. This study assessed the attitudes and response capacities of PHE workers in primary healthcare (PHC) institutions. METHODS An online anonymous questionnaire survey of 803 healthcare workers sampled from 13 PHC institutions in Wuhan, China, was conducted from April to June 2020. The Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression model were used to analyze the response capacities of PHE workers and associated factors. RESULTS The healthcare workers with longer working years, particularly 30 years and above, had higher knowledge (OR = 7.323, p < 0.001) and practical ability scores (OR = 8.012, p < 0.001) when compared to those with less than 5 working years. The nurses had higher practical ability scores (OR = 2.188, p = 0.049), and pharmacists had lower practical ability scores (OR = 0.166, p = 0.007), when compared to doctors. Moreover, the healthcare workers who had never participated in educational activities related to PHE management in the past two years (OR = 0.540, p = 0.038; OR = 0.282, p = 0.001), had not participated in a PHE drill activity (OR = 0.327, p < 0.001; OR = 0.340, p = 0.004), and had never been involved in emergency management of PHEs (OR = 0.254, p < 0.001; OR = 0.174, p < 0.001) had lower knowledge and practical ability scores. CONCLUSION The healthcare workers with longer working years had better response capacities, and nurses had better practical abilities when compared to doctors. More emergency management education and chances to be involved in PHE drill activities were encouraged amongst healthcare workers in PHC institutions for better prevention and control of PHEs. Moreover, inter-institution cooperation, a flexible response system, and dynamic adjustment of healthcare workers were suggested during PHEs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changmin Tang
- School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Xin Chen
- School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Cuiling Guan
- School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Pengqian Fang
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| |
Collapse
|