Closing Gaps in Dermatologic Care for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Practical Strategies for Training, Advocacy, and Person-Centered Practice
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Keywords
community advocacy, IDD, dermatology, disabilities
Abstract
Background Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) represent one of the most underserved populations in healthcare and experience disproportionate burdens of dermatologic disease, delayed diagnosis, and barriers to specialty care. Despite the growing prevalence of IDD, dermatology training and clinical frameworks addressing the unique needs of patients with IDD remain limited.
Methods We conducted a targeted review of the literature to synthesize practical strategies to improve care delivery. A systematic search of Ovid MEDLINE was performed for U.S.-based, peer-reviewed articles published from 2014 to 2024 addressing healthcare access, stigma, quality of care, and outcomes among adults with IDD. Of 178 screened articles, 40 met inclusion criteria. Additional guidelines and policy reports were reviewed to contextualize gaps within dermatology education and practice.
Results Individuals with IDD experience substantial medical complexity and chronic care needs, which are known risk factors for dermatological complications, including chronic skin conditions, pressure injuries, infections, and wound complications. These risks are compounded by reduced access to dermatologic care and provider discomfort in managing IDD-specific needs. Key barriers include adequate training, communication challenges, implicit bias, fragmented care systems, and policy limitations. Three intervention domains emerged: (1) enhanced dermatology education and training; (2) advocacy for systemic and policy-level reforms; and (3) adoption of person-centered care models (Table 1).
Conclusion Improving dermatologic care for individuals with IDD requires coordinated educational, policy, and clinical interventions. Collectively, the literature indicates that these strategies are central to advancing equitable, high-quality dermatologic care for this underserved population.
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