How Medical Students Conceptualize Disability: Implications for Interprofessional Practice and Education

Authors

  • Daniel J. Bechard Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • Adam M.B. Day Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • Sinéad P. Dufour Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • Agnieszka Dzioba Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • Colin McCabe Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • Scott M. Rasmussen Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • Philip C. Doyle Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/jripe.2010v1n2a10

Keywords:

Disability, Health, ICF, Interprofessional collaboration, Medical education

Abstract

Background: This study explored whether medical students at a Canadian university conceptualize health and disability from a biomedical or biopsychosocial perspective. The World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) served as the theoretical basis for this exploration.

Methods: A written survey was administered to capture medical students' conceptualizations of health and disability. The survey included questions explicitly related to the constructs of universalism, nonlinearity, social and environmental factors, personal factors, participation, aspects of language and biopsychosocial health perspectives. The survey was also designed to include both theoretical and scenario-based questions related to biopsychosocial concepts of disability. The survey was distributed to and completed by a senior medical school class at a Canadian university.

Results: In total, 82 out of 131 medical students completed the survey. Observed trends suggested that for theory-based questions, respondents exhibited close agreement with biopsychosocial perspectives of health and disability. Scenariobased questions resulted in more variability among respondents compared to theory-based questions. When students who previously had been introduced to the ICF were compared with students who had not, those familiar with the ICF more consistently exhibited a biopsychosocial perspective of health and disability; however these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Overall, senior medical students in this study were generally found to conceptualize disability using a biopsychosocial orientation. This result was more pronounced among students who were previously familiar with the ICF. Interestingly, a biopsychosocial orientation was not consistently maintained for scenario-based questions for all respondents. Our current healthcare climate requires that the concept of health move beyond a biomedical perspective to a more holistic biopsychosocial perspective. This change in perspective is of particular importance as movement towards team-based models of care continues to gain momentum. Closing conceptual and language-based gaps related to concepts of health and disability among all healthcare professionals is pertinent to improving
interprofessional collaboration and service provision. The ICF presents a framework and language that is relevant across all health professions. Increased use of the ICF in health professional education and training could significantly contribute to increased interdisciplinary success.


Author Biographies

Daniel J. Bechard, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Daniel J. Bechard is a doctoral candidate of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Western Ontario focusing on rehabilitation biomechanics at the Wolf Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory.

Adam M.B. Day, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Adam is a doctoral student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Western Ontario.  He is also a research assistant in the Voice Production and Perception Laboratory at UWO, as well as the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, UWO.  Adam's primary research interests include conceptualizations of human health and well-being, and the roles of nature and the natural environment in human health, well-being, and quality of life.

Sinéad P. Dufour, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Currently completing her doctorate in Health and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Western Ontario, Sinéad’s research interests include models of primary health care service delivery, interprofessional collaborative practice and advanced practice roles for physiotherapists. As a Professional Associate of McMaster University, Sinéad contributes to McMaster’s MScPT program as a clinical educator and problem-based tutorial facilitator. Sinéad has recently commenced an appointment at the University of Western Ontario at the rank of a lecturer, teaching in the Faculty of Health Sciences.  Sinéad keeps current clinically by continuing to practice at her clinic, Trafalgar Physiotherapy in Oakville. 

Agnieszka Dzioba, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Agnieszka Dzioba is a PhD student in the Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Elborn College, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Colin McCabe, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Colin McCabe is a recent graduate of the Health and Rehabilitation Science program at the University of Western Ontario.  His primary degree was in Biomedical Science at the University of Guelph and he is now completing a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery Degree at Monash University in Australia.


Scott M. Rasmussen, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Scott M. Rasmussen is a recent Masters graduate from the Rehabilitation Sciences program at the University of Western Ontario. With a background in health promotion, Scott's Master thesis assessed stigmatizing labels created by the Canadian biomedical health care model and the health practitioners who operate under its domain. Scott's research is focused on improving health of Canadians through assessing the utility of the biopsychosocial model of health as a complement to the biomedical model of health, exemplified through the World Health Organization's 'International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health'.  

Philip C. Doyle, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Dr. Doyle is Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.  He is also the Director of the Voice Production and Perception Laboratory at UWO.

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Published

2010-08-13

Issue

Section

Articles: Empirical Research