A pilot-test to support healthcare providers in promoting vaccine uptake among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DDs) encounter barriers to vaccine access, uptake, and confidence, leading to health inequities. These include barriers related to healthcare provider capacity to effectively address the social determinants of health, provide accessible needle procedures, and translate and disseminate inclusive public health information. The current study aimed to test the preliminary effectiveness of a virtual continuing medical education (CME) course on enhancing healthcare provider capacity to address these barriers. This CME was available free-of-charge online. Participants included 120 healthcare providers (physicians: 45%; nurses: 37%; and other learners: 18%) in internal medicine, family practice, and related disciplines. The CME—created based on video interviews with patients and providers—focused on factors that affect vaccine uptake/access/confidence (Module 1); strategies to increase vaccine receipt (Module 2); and inclusive public health communication (Module 3). The pre-post survey assessed self-reported understanding, confidence, and abilities. Following CME completion, learners were significantly more likely to report higher understanding, confidence, and abilities in responding to the social determinants of health (Module 1); addressing barriers to vaccine access/uptake/confidence (Module 2); and engaging in effective public health communication (Module 3). Findings support the utility of short-term healthcare provider trainings on this topic. Future research should evaluate longer-term impacts and identify opportunities to create standardized medical curricula for this population.