Medical students' attitudes towards disability and support for disability in medicine.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Medical students' attitudes towards disability and support for disability in medicine.

AU - Miller, Sarah

AU - Ross, Sarah

AU - Cleland, Jennifer

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Background: The number of medical students disclosing a disability is lower than the number of disabled doctors. Aims: This study aimed to examine rates and types of disability in medical students, whether students disclosed this disability and their support needs, and, if not, possible reasons for non-disclosure. Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study of all medical students registered at the University of Aberdeen in October 2007 (n = 944). Results: Six percent of respondents considered they had a disability on application to medical school, but only 4% had disclosed this on admission. After reading the legal definition of disability, the percentage of respondents considering themselves as having a disability increased to 13%. Disabilities included: specific learning difficulties; mental health issues; sensory impairment; chronic illness; and mobility problems. Challenges to their studies due to disability were reported by nearly half of the disabled respondents but two-thirds had not sought support. Twelve percent reported experiencing discrimination due to their disability. Broader attitudes to disability indicated that many (75%) respondents believed some disabilities would prevent the study of medicine. Conclusions: Non-disclosure of disability in medical students may be due to several factors including narrow definitions of disability and negative attitudes towards disability from the wider student body.

AB - Background: The number of medical students disclosing a disability is lower than the number of disabled doctors. Aims: This study aimed to examine rates and types of disability in medical students, whether students disclosed this disability and their support needs, and, if not, possible reasons for non-disclosure. Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study of all medical students registered at the University of Aberdeen in October 2007 (n = 944). Results: Six percent of respondents considered they had a disability on application to medical school, but only 4% had disclosed this on admission. After reading the legal definition of disability, the percentage of respondents considering themselves as having a disability increased to 13%. Disabilities included: specific learning difficulties; mental health issues; sensory impairment; chronic illness; and mobility problems. Challenges to their studies due to disability were reported by nearly half of the disabled respondents but two-thirds had not sought support. Twelve percent reported experiencing discrimination due to their disability. Broader attitudes to disability indicated that many (75%) respondents believed some disabilities would prevent the study of medicine. Conclusions: Non-disclosure of disability in medical students may be due to several factors including narrow definitions of disability and negative attitudes towards disability from the wider student body.

UR - http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/19811160

U2 - 10.1080/01421590802516814

DO - 10.1080/01421590802516814

M3 - Article

C2 - 19811160

SN - 0142-159X

VL - 31

SP - e272–e277

JO - Medical Teacher

JF - Medical Teacher

IS - 6

ER -