Disability Within US Public Health School and Program Curricula

Abstract

Objective To describe the percentage of US public health schools and programs offering graduate-level courses with disability content as a potential baseline measurement for Healthy People 2020 objective DH-3 and compare the percentage of public health schools that offered disability coursework in 1999 with those in 2011. Design In 2011, using SurveyMonkey.com, cross-sectional information was collected from the deans, associate deans, directors, or chairpersons of master of public health–granting public health schools and programs that were accredited and listed with the Council on Education for Public Health. Two rounds of follow-up were conducted at 4-month intervals by e-mails and phone calls to program contacts who had not responded. The responses from schools and programs were calculated and compared. Results There were 78 responses (34 schools and 44 programs) for a response rate of 63%. Fifty percent of public health schools and programs offered some disability content within their graduate-level courses. A greater percentage of schools than programs (71% vs 34%; P = .003) offered some graduate-level disability coursework within their curricula. The percentage of schools that offered disability coursework was similar in 1999 and 2011. Conclusion This assessment provides a potential baseline measurement for Healthy People 2020 objective DH-3. Future assessments should focus on clarifying disability content within courses and identifying capacity to offering disability training within public health schools and programs.

The study of ableism in population health: a critical review

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Predictors of Coordinated and Comprehensive Care Within a Medical Home for Children With Special Healthcare (CHSCN) Needs

“…This lack of communication may be the result of a lack of preparation among providers. Currently, very few public health schools and programs offer disability specific training ( 29 ). Physicians have also reported frustration and lack of confidence when treating individuals with disabilities, primarily due to a lack of education and training ( 30 ).…”

Health of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A lifespan view.

“…Although the Liaison Committee for Medical Education emphasizes the value of diversity and of providing culturally competent care in its accreditation standards (Liaison Committee on Medical Education, 2014), there is currently no requirement to include guidance about working with patients with dis abilities in the training of future physicians in the United States. Likewise, disability content is lacking in nursing (National League for Nursing, 2016) and public health training programs (Sinclair et al, 2015). Students in these fields learn about caring for patients with disabilities only as a result of individual faculty champions in health education programs.…”