An educational intervention regarding the gynecological exam to educate women with developmental disabilities

Researchers report that women with developmental disabilities are not sufficiently informed about reproductive health issues and the gynecological exam. Women with disabilities, given their reproductive risk factors and intellectual impairment, provide a logical target for a gynecological, educational intervention. Researchers and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community collaborated to answer the following research questions; 1) Can an internet based educational intervention be developed and used to effectively educate women with developmental disabilities about the gynecological exam? 2) Did the educational intervention positively influence knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intent about the gynecological exam? Based on a revision of an existing university educational module, and a review of health-related disabilities literature, a gynecological exam lesson was developed and jury reviewed by women's health researchers, practitioners and educators working with the target population, and a representative of Self Advocates for women with developmental disabilities. Also a pre/post structured response online survey was developed and jury reviewed for developmental appropriateness, construct and content validity. The intervention and survey instrument were pilot tested, modified and administered to the targeted women who were identified from a list-serv for the six Great Lakes States. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple analyses of variance. MANOVA was used to examine the dependent variables: knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intent toward the gynecological exam. Knowledge was most improved while behavioral intent results varied depending on guardianship and educational levels of the subjects. Recommendations relate to primary prevention via health care providers in individual and group homes.