Acceptance of Students with Physical Disabilities in Medical Schools in Saudi Arabia: Perception, Experience, and Recommendation

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Data of the Public Survey Participants

Variables	Groups	n	%
Sex	Male	222	35%
	Female	411	65%
Total		633	100%
Age Group	<18 years	3	1%
	18–25 years	36	6%
	26–35 years	106	17%
	36–45 years	201	32%
	46–55 years	166	26%
	56–65 years	107	17%
	>65 years	14	2%
Education Level	Primary school	4	1%
	Intermediate school	17	3%
	High school	96	15%
	Undergraduate degree	367	58%
	Graduate degree	149	24%
Nationality	Saudi	559	88%
	Non-Saudi	74	12%
Are you classified with a physical disability?	No	610	96%
	Yes	15	2%
	Maybe	8	1%
Do you have a child with a physical disability?	No	604	95%
	Yes	29	5%

Table 2 Demographic Data of the Survey Participants by Educators, Medical Students, and Intern

Variables	Groups	n	%
Gender	Male	180	56%
	Female	143	44%
Total		323	100%
Participants	Educators	46	14%
	Medical Student	278	86%
Educators Academic Title Preclinical phase	Teaching Assistant	2	4%	45 70%
	Lecturer	6	13%
	Assistant Professor	32	71%
	Associate Professor	4	9%
	Professor	1	2%
Educators Clinical Title Clinical phase	Physician	14	74%	19 30%
	Paramedic	1	5%
	Other	4	21%
Medical Student	Pre-Clinical phase	258	95%
	Clinical phase	11	4%
	Intern	2	1%

Table 3 The Perception Results of the Public About the Enrolment and Performance of Students with Physical Disabilities in Medical Schools

Perception Statements	Agree	Neutral	Disagree
I think that studying in medical colleges and working as a doctor is appropriate for individuals with physical disabilities.	333 (53%)	240 (38%)	60 (9%)
I accept to be seen by a doctor with a disability and supervise my health condition.	469 (74%)	119 (19%)	45 (7%)
I agree to enroll my child with physical disabilities to study in medical colleges.	457 (72%)	136 (21%)	40 (6%)
I believe functional performance of a physician with a physical disability equivalent to that of a healthy physician.	211 (33%)	247 (39%)	175 (28%)
I think that some medical specialties are more suitable for doctors with disabilities than others.	366 (58%)	173 (27%)	94 (15%)
I think that some physical disabilities may be compatible with studying in medical colleges and working as doctors.	475 (75%)	125 (20%)	33 (5%)
I am convinced that the number of doctor working hours appropriate for doctors with disabilities.	131 (21%)	299 (47%)	203 (32%)
I think that the health administration suits doctors with disabilities more than their work in caring for patients.	217 (34%)	290 (46%)	126 (20%)
I think that spreading awareness will change the stereotyped image and contribute to the acceptance of doctors with physical disabilities.	527 (83%)	92 (15%)	14 (2%)
I think that hospitals and medical centers are prepared for the work of doctors with physical disabilities.	125 (20%)	219 (35%)	289 (46%)
I believe that regulations and laws should be amended to prepare the medical environment and hospitals to receive doctors with physical disabilities.	463 (73%)	129 (20%)	41 (6%)

Table 4 The Perception Results of the Educators, Medical Students, and Interns About the Enrolment and Performance of Students with Physical Disabilities in Medical Schools

Perception Statements	Agree	Neutral	Disagree
I think working as a doctor suits people with physical disability.	160 (67%)	52 (22%)	27 (11%)
I think that students with physical disabilities should have equal opportunity with non-disabled students to enroll in medical colleges.	216 (79%)	30 (11%)	28 (10%)
I think physical fitness is a requirement for doctors.	117 (47%)	51 (20%)	82 (33%)
I think that the performance of students with physical disabilities is equivalent to that of students who are physically fit.	142 (55%)	43 (17%)	72 (28%)
I think that students with physical disabilities will be able to communicate well with patients and the community.	237 (82%)	26 (9%)	26 (9%)
I believe that students with physical disabilities will have equal opportunities in training, and employment after graduation.	59 (23%)	33 (13%)	168 (65%)
I feel that educators have sufficient knowledge and experiences to adequately support the learning needs of students with physical disabilities.	67 (27%)	45 (18%)	136 (55%)
I think that educators are aware of what is required to be provided for students with disability.	72 (30%)	51 (21%)	115 (48%)
I think providing individual and financial assistance will make the medical colleges accessible for students with disability.	210 (78%)	34 (13%)	25 (9%)
I think that medical colleges can accommodate students with physical disability in the future.	241 (85%)	26 (9%)	15 (5%)
I think that students with disabilities and their families understand the difficulty of accessibility, limitation of ability to be inclusive as students in medical schools.	173 (69%)	52 (21%)	24 (10%)
I think that the families of students with physical disability are aware of the range of support that their child needs to succeed in the medical college.	134 (56%)	45 (19%)	61 (25%)
I am aware of any medical college policies preventing acceptance of students with physical disabilities.	67 (26%)	25 (10%)	169 (65%)
I think that medical colleges policies support awareness to improve the accessibility to medical colleges and hospitals for physically disabled students.	69 (29%)	50 (21%)	120 (50%)
I think the policy, educational programs, and services are modifiable to support students with physical disabilities.	121 (50%)	41 (17%)	81 (33%)

Table 5 The Qualitative Interview Results with Saudi Physically Disabled Doctor About Her Experience as a Medical Student in Saudi Arabia and as a Resident in United States

1. What type of disability do you have? Briefly describe your disability? Poliomyelitis of the right leg, muscle weakness of the right lower extremity from hip joint to the right foot with foot drop and lambing when walking.

2. Do you have relatives with similar disability? No relative with similar disability.

3. Did you need special assistance during your education? Was assistance available? No, I did not need special assistance during my education. The assistance was not available.

4. Did you need special arrangement when attending lectures? Was it available? No, I did not need special arrangement when attending the lectures. It was not available.

5. Did you need assistance or special equipment during you studies or extended submission date? Yes, I did. During my step 3 USMLE exam I could not know how it was schedule. I had neck pain due to disc herniation that is a complication of my spinal lordosis.

6. Did you envisage any activities during your studying program that you cannot attend because of your disability? Yes, I mentioned before. I was given six months extra to study for the American board of family medicine.

7. Did you need special arrangement and equipment or extra time for examination during your study? The special arrangement was not available. I was struggling in surgery and medicine rotation due to long standing time and the walking for long distance in the rounds.

8. What was the most difficult part during your study and work? Standing for long hours in surgery and walking for long distance in the round, and sometimes I was on call alone which was very difficult for me.

9. What are the things that you wish they were available at the time you study? Paying more attention to the medical students with disability and provide their requirement to pass their studying years smoothly. Provide the golf cars for transportation between buildings. Allow them to take short breaks in the rounds and operation room. Provide seats in the first row for students with disabilities. Provide elevators, wider doors for the wheelchairs. Ramps instead of stairs. Accessible toilets for students with disabilities. Use of assistive technology

10. What are the differences between your experience in KSA and abroad? In America where I studied there were more consideration for my situation and my need. I did not need to walk for long distance. The round is done as a table round instead of walking between the patient’s room for long time. I was allowed to leave the round whenever I feel tired. The heavy rotations are splitted over longer period. They choose closest clinic to the door for me to not walk for long. I was using a chair during the round. The disabled parking are always near the exits.

11. Did you regret it studying medicine? No I did not.

12. If your child is having disability will you agree for him or her to study in medical field? Not sure but her/his motive will emphasize the drive.

13. What are the things that can modify the lifestyle for disabled students in medical field? Mostly the facilities that can modify the life style of student with disability in medical field. Extra time to study and for the assignment. Short cuts and closer distance to the gates. Special equipment and wheelchairs. Seating area in the patient ward. Minimize the walking time and do table rounds.

14. Do you think medicine suits students with physical disability? Yes of course.

15. Do you think students with disability can study with other students without modification in the studying place? That will depend on the degree of the disability but in general students with disability need more modification to make their lives easier. Elevators instead of stairs, wheel chair ramps, appointed seats with easy access.