Disability-competence training influences health care providers’ conceptualizations of disability: An evaluation study

• Published in: Disability and health journal 2021-10, Vol.14 (4), p.101124-101124, Article 101124
• Main Authors: Phillips, Kimberly G., England, Evan, Wishengrad, Jeanne S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cultural competence; Health care; Social model of disability; Training
• ISSN: 1936-6574; 1876-7583
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101124

Often, health care providers’ approach to people with disabilities is grounded in a medical model perspective. This view highlights individual deficits and does not foster patient-centeredness. Learning about and adopting a more social model, focused on creating accessible and inclusive approaches and environments, could help providers to reshape their attitudes about disability, dismantling barriers to care. This study used innovative methods to evaluate a recorded, online disability-competence training for health care providers. It was hypothesized that the training would 1) shift providers’ conceptualizations of disability away from a medical model view toward a social model view of disability and 2) equip providers with actionable strategies to improve access to care for people with disabilities. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation data were analyzed for n = 192 training participants. Measures included participants’ pre- and post-training conceptualizations of disability, proposed actions steps to facilitate patient-centered care, and measures of satisfaction and self-assessed knowledge gain. Both hypotheses were supported. After the training, participants’ conceptualizations of disability were more reflective of the social model, and participants were better able to articulate specific action steps they could take to promote accessible, responsive care. This study demonstrates that health care provider training can positively affect providers’ knowledge, outlook, and approach to caring for people with disabilities. Its findings can inform broader efforts aimed at systematically changing the way health professionals are educated and trained to provide care in disability-competent ways.