Effects of Medical Students and Family Medicine Trainees/Educators' Attitudes and Knowledge About Disability on Clinical Decision-Making

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Authors

• Christine Skovira, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Medical Student
• Roksolana Sudyk, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Medical Student
• Matthew Almany, Family Medicine Resident - Corewell Health West
• Harland Holman, Family Medicine Resident - Corewell Health West
• Laura VanPuymbrouck
• Ariel Cascio, Michigan State University
• Nishika Patel, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Medical Student
• Simran Bhogal, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Medical Student
• Rachelle Pichot, Graduate Medical Education - Corewell Health West

Description

One in four adults in the United States live with a disability, with mobility impairments affecting 14%. Persons with disabilities (PWD) consistently receive less preventive care and experience poorer health outcomes. Contributing factors include provider attitudes, limited training, and low awareness. This study examined whether medical trainees', and family medicine residents/educators, perceptions of PWD influence clinical decision-making.

An anonymous survey was distributed to medical students, family medicine residents and family medicine educators. Respondents reviewed a clinical case involving acute low back pain and hypertension and were randomly assigned to a patient with (CASE A) or without (CASE B) a mobility disability (lower limb amputation). They then answered multiple-choice and free-response questions on management decisions. Descriptive statistics and frequency tables summarized data.

A total of 118 medical students (years 1-4) and 28 family residents/faculty were surveyed for a total of 146 respondents. Demographics included training level, gender, disability status, and family history of mobility disability. Quantitative and qualitative analysis is currently being performed on the dataset. Quantitative analysis looks to compare responses to multiple choice questions between case A and B. Preliminary results of quantitative data does not show much clinical significance between responses. Our statistician is currently writing up a summary of the most interesting non-statistically significant results. In regards to the quantitative data (free response questions), we are currently analyzing the data using a systematic inductive coding approach designed to classify clinical reasoning into quantifiable categories suitable for mixed-methods analysis.

This is the first case-based study to examine how medical students' and family medicine trainees/educators perceptions of PWD relate to clinical decision-making. Preliminary findings suggest that disability bias may NOT influence clinical decision making in PWD (these findings refute our hypothesis). Despite the fact, medical curricula should continue to address how stigma and misconceptions about disability shape care delivery. Additional studies, with larger sample sizes, may be needed to support our findings.

Publication Date

5-8-2026

Disciplines

Family Medicine

Recommended Citation

Skovira C, Sudyk R, Almany M, Holman H, VanPuymbrouck L, Cascio A, Patel N, Bhogal S, Pichot R. Effects of medical students and family medicine trainees/educators' attitudes and knowledge about disability on clinical decision-making. Presented at: Research Day Corewell Health West; 2026 May 8; Grand Rapids, MI.

Comments

2026 Research Day Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, MI, May 8, 2026. Abstract 1925