Interprofessional Approach to Educate Health Care Students About Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Adaptive Communication and Physical Activity Planning

Date of Review: February, 2024

This article, from MedEd Portal, describes a two-part interprofessional seminar which aims to develop learner’s knowledge, skills and attitudes about patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). The materials were developed for delivery in on-line environments and include PowerPoint slides, prerecorded mock interviews, and material on adaptive communications and physical activity plans. While pre/post surveys indicated that the curriculum increased learners’ comfort and confidence with this topic, competence with skills was not assessed. Strength of this curriculum include: 1) the detailed resources includes in appendices, and especially the materials on adaptive exercise plans, and 2) the flexibility of this material to Zoom or other on-line delivery methods. Limitations, as the authors point out, include the lack of treatment of intersectionality of people with IDD and videos that cover communication with individuals only with mild intellectual disability. — Loel Solomon, Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine

Corresponding Author’s Email:

megan.haugland@qu.edu

Institution:

Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University

Where was the Curriculum Implemented:

Connecticut

Outcomes that Have Been Reported for the Curriculum:

Learner Satisfaction or reaction

Self-reported learner knowledge

Outcome and Study Design:

Pre/Post

Level of Learner Assessment

Appreciation of content/attitude assessment (self-reflection, blogging with rubric)