Initial Pre-Service Teacher Education on Rare Diseases: A Sensitization Experience in the University Context
Abstract
This study explores the impact of an awareness campaign on rare diseases (RDs) in the training of future teachers, focusing on their preparation to support students with special educational needs associated with these conditions. The campaign, implemented at the Faculty of Education of the University of the Balearic Islands, aimed to reduce the lack of awareness surrounding RDs and enhance participants’ capacity to provide inclusive educational responses. A quantitative, exploratory methodology was applied to a sample of n = 419 students enrolled in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Pedagogy programs. Their levels of knowledge, misconceptions, and knowledge gaps were analyzed using the Rare Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (RDKQ). The results indicate that students in Early Childhood Education demonstrated greater knowledge of RDs than their peers in Pedagogy and Primary Education. Additionally, a slight reduction in misconceptions and knowledge gaps was observed among students who participated in the campaign, although the overall level of knowledge about RDs remained limited. These findings suggest that awareness initiatives can effectively increase future teachers’ understanding of RDs; however, additional training strategies are needed to consolidate this knowledge and promote high-quality inclusive education.
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