Teaching disability and rehabilitation to undergraduate medical students in two universities in South Africa

A cross sectional survey was conducted to find out the extent to which undergraduate clinical medical students (N=235) in two universities in South Africa were exposed to structured teaching of disability and rehabilitation. There were multiple opportunities to learn about disability and rehabilitation (n=444), with medical doctors facilitating 40.8%, focusing greater emphasis on disease and impairment. In one of the universities, the survey was followed by a focus group discussion involving 11 students (including 5 persons with disabilities) in the postgraduate Disability Studies program. The focus group reviewed the outcome of the survey and made recommendations on strengthening available learning opportunities for medical students to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide effective service to persons with disability.