The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes of nursing students toward intellectually and developmentally disabled persons before and after immersion in a community home-base program. This presentation will discuss the findings of a two year program to immerse nursing students into a community home-base program, which works with intellectually and developmentally disabled (IDD) persons.
There is not a great deal of literature on the attitudes of nurses toward those who have intellectual and developmental delays. Lam, Gunukula, McGuigan, Isaiah, Symons and Aki (2010) noted that health care providers lack the knowledge to work with individuals with disabilities and frequently they have negative attitudes. The original work on attitudes towards disabled persons (ATDP) survey was completed in 1970 and since then has been used in schools and with some medical staff, but only infrequently with nurses or nursing students (Cervasio & Fatata-Hall, 2013). In an article by Gardner in 2012, the author notes that nursing curricula have not adequately prepared graduates to provide appropriate care of IDD individuals. In an alternate perspective, Moores, Lister, Boyd, Archer, Kates, & Stobbe (2015) report that often IDD individuals are uncomfortable being with healthcare providers and because of this, may not receive necessary care. Based on these issues, faculty believed that it was important to incorporate information and experience with the IDD population into the nursing curriculum. This project was the first step toward incorporating persons with disabilities into our program.
Methods:
The program began with a small group of nursing students volunteering to work with a local community partnership involving the IDD population. This partnership was part of the university home-base program, in which community partners has students work with them over multiple semesters and totaling 120 hours. The students received a survey on their attitudes towards disabled persons (ATDP). They then viewed a program highlighting some of the types of disabilities common to members of this population. The program included some teaching tips and possible community projects. Following this, the students were required to complete three semesters at the group facility. They may assist with classes, projects, or sponsored events. During the final semester, the students were required to present two projects with the IDD residents. The projects were required to be topics chosen in combination with the residents and community administrators. Following the students time with the community program, they retook the ATDP survey and results were analyzed.
Results:
At the end of the community project, the nursing students’ attitudes on the ATDP survey were studied. Of the 30 items on the survey, 8 showed a positive improvement in student perception. The items were: 1. Disabled persons are more emotional than other people; 2. Disabled people show as much enthusiasm as other people; 3. Most disabled people feel that they are as good as other people; 4.Disabled persons usually are not as conscientious as physically normal persons; 5. Most disabled persons are not dissatisfied with themselves; 6. Most disabled persons do not get discouraged easily; 7. Most disabled persons can take care of themselves; and 8. It would be best if disabled persons would live and work with non-disabled persons. The results overall showed that students became more comfortable and had a better awareness of the IDD population. This awareness included not only healthcare needs, but also they social and behavioral needs. The students learned that the IDD population was varied and that many were able to live independently. The population was knowledgeable in many areas and were very helpful and engaging. The residents overall were positive and able to assist in many aspects of care. This program gave the students a much broader and positive view of this population.
Conclusion:
This program was extremely beneficial and had a valuable outcome for both the nursing students and the IDD residents. The faculty will continue to work with the IDD group and explore other projects and events in which to collaborate. We hope to incorporate this program with all nursing students, not only with the community home-base group.