Batarfi Munirah, Alraddadi Abdulrahman
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Adv Med Educ Pract. 2024 Mar 26;15:231-241. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S442652. eCollection 2024.
Physical disability is seen as a burden in many countries, and it has been a challenge to create a healthy environment and a fair living experience for all people with physical disability. For a long time, the number of students accepted to medical school has been limited, and the number of successful experiences for doctors with disabilities is inadequate worldwide. This study aims to investigate the perception of the public, medical educators, and medical students about the acceptance of students with physical disabilities in medical schools in Saudi Arabia.
The study uses two methodological strategies: a quantitative cross-sectional survey and a qualitative interview with a young female doctor with a physical disability to discuss her educational experience and work journey in Saudi Arabia and abroad. The study was conducted at the College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The perception survey results showed a broad acceptance of the public, medical educators, and medical students regarding the enrollment of students with physical disabilities in medical schools and regarding being treated by doctors with physical disabilities. The participants also believed that students with physical disabilities are compatible with most doctors' jobs.
Students with physical disabilities should be able to study and practice medicine. Educational and health institutions should apply more effort and commitment to provide the necessary accommodations to accept students and doctors with physical disabilities based on their cognitive ability but not their physical disability.
在许多国家，身体残疾被视为一种负担，为所有身体残疾者创造一个健康的环境和公平的生活体验一直是一项挑战。长期以来，被医学院录取的学生数量有限，而且全球范围内残疾医生的成功经历也不足。本研究旨在调查沙特阿拉伯公众、医学教育工作者和医学生对医学院录取身体残疾学生的看法。
该研究采用两种方法策略：定量横断面调查以及对一名身体残疾的年轻女医生进行定性访谈，以讨论她在沙特阿拉伯国内外的教育经历和工作历程。该研究在沙特阿拉伯利雅得的沙特国王阿卜杜勒阿齐兹卫生科学大学医学院进行。
认知调查结果显示，公众、医学教育工作者和医学生普遍接受身体残疾学生进入医学院就读以及接受残疾医生治疗。参与者还认为身体残疾学生能够胜任大多数医生的工作。
身体残疾学生应该能够学习和行医。教育和卫生机构应付出更多努力并承担责任，根据身体残疾学生的认知能力而非身体残疾状况，提供必要的便利条件以接纳他们入学并从业。
