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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 2024:01367895-990000000-00135. [PMID: 38648617 DOI: 10.1097/jpa.0000000000000583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [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.
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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
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