Self-evaluation of the preparation of physicians and physiotherapists to provide medical services to people with intellectual disability

† This manuscript was accepted under the Editorship of Susan Balandin.

Abstract

Background This study aimed to analyse the self-evaluations of physicians and physiotherapists, from different specialisations, about their preparedness for work with people with intellectual disability (ID), and what they considered were the most significant barriers in working with people with ID. Both the physicians and physiotherapists pointed to initiatives that they found useful, such as the Healthy Athletes Program of the Special Olympics, which prepares them for everyday work with people with disability.

Methods The research was carried out in Poland with a group of 120 physicians and physiotherapists working in healthcare institutions. The research was based on the authors’ original questionnaire, which consists of 12 questions.

Results The research participants rated their preparation for work with people with ID as 3.56 on a 4-point scale; their opinion of other representatives of the medical community was 3.44.

Conclusions The physicians and physiotherapists identified gaps in their preparation to provide highly specialised medical and rehabilitation care to people with ID. They also pointed out that barriers to communication were the most significant difficulty encountered. Professionals’ engagement in a program such as the Healthy Athletes Program may go some way toward improving the quality of the services they provide to people with ID.

Keywords:

• intellectual disability
• Special Olympics
• medical health care

Notes

† This manuscript was accepted under the Editorship of Susan Balandin.