Objective: To investigate chiropractic students’ comfort and confidence levels in modifying care for vulnerable patient groups. A second aim is to present data on students’ self-identification as belonging to one or more of these groups.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 117 second-year students enrolled in a Special Populations course was conducted. Respondents selected special population groups (SPG) to which they identified as belonging. They rated their comfort interacting with and confidence levels modifying care for each SPG on a 5-point scale. A general patient group (GPG), representing patients not belonging to any SPG, served as a benchmark. Responses were grouped into 3 categories: those lacking comfort or confidence, those unsure or neutral, and those with comfort or confidence.
Results: Comfort and confidence levels were found to be higher for the GPG than the SPG average. Perceptions of a sociocultural vulnerable subgrouping were much closer to GPG than a physically vulnerable subgrouping. Students perceived themselves most comfortable and confident with ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse patient groups and least comfortable and confident with physically and mentally disabled groups. Thirty-seven percent of respondents identified as belonging to one or more SPG.
Conclusion: Respondents perceived their comfort levels to be higher than their confidence levels. Ratings for sociocultural vulnerable groups were higher than physically vulnerable groups. Gaps between comfort and confidence were higher in the sociocultural subgroup than the physically vulnerable subgroup. A significant minority of students identified as belonging to one or more of the studied groups.
Author keywords: Chiropractic, Cultural Compentency, Health Education, Health Occupations, Students, Vulnerable Populations
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