A new study finds that people with cognitive impairments are more likely to report poorer experiences with healthcare providers. (Thinkstock)
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely than other people to say that their doctors don’t listen to them, don’t take enough time, or don’t give them clear advice.
In the new study, researchers looked at the experiences of more than 22,000 adults across the U.S. who participated in the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a federal survey that asks about people’s experiences with health care.
Studies have found that people with cognitive disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, have significantly lower overall satisfaction with health care services and worse interactions with health care providers. The top issues people with disabilities cited were related to communication with health care providers and the amount of time spent with patients with disabilities, according to a study recently published in the Disability and Health Journal.
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While previous studies have mainly focused on access to care and the perspectives of health care providers, the Rutgers researchers said their findings are among the first to include the voices of people with disabilities themselves.
The researchers said the communication problems cited by people with disabilities were not only frustrating but could also lead to negative outcomes.
“Addressing this issue should include integrating disability competencies into medical education and policies (e.g., increased compensation) that reflect the increased time and effort required to meet the needs of patients with disabilities,” said Elizabeth Stone, a Rutgers University researcher who led the study.
Additionally, the researchers said adults with cognitive impairment should do more to prepare for interactions with health care providers, including requesting any accommodations that could improve their experience.
People with disabilities have long struggled to access quality health care, and studies have shown that many doctors are not as well prepared to care for them as others.
After facing tough odds, the National Institutes of Health agreed in September to designate people with disabilities as a health disparities population.
Disability advocates have in recent years called for all medical schools to require specific training in treating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. So far, those efforts have been unsuccessful, but the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association pledged last year to work toward expanding disability training for medical and dental students.
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