| abstract |
Interaction between primary care physicians and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities has the potential to influence the quality of the health care experience for both parties. Primary care physicians, as the first and continuing contact for people with health concerns, must be aware of the aspects of care that are important to the person with disability in maintaining a healthy, satisfying quality of life.
Review of the literature regarding primary care for this patient population focuses predominantly on components of service: convenience, timeliness, and physical access, for example. Studies that attempt to ascertain what is most important to the person with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from a personal perspective, are not evident in the literature.
Within the framework of medical humanities, this research will examine the history of disability in society, the arts, and humanities; the place of disability in the evolution of health care; and studies related to the provision of care for those with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The influence of medical humanities in developing the primary care physician's ability to hear, acknowledge, and understand the story of the person with disability will be considered in light of developing effective communication with and care for the person with intellectual/developmental disability. Through interviews with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and health care professionals, the research is designed to collect information on the relative influence of life experience, attitudes, behaviors, and interests important to the person with intellectual/developmental disability, and how those factors relate to developing effective communication and relationship with primary care physicians.
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