Analyzing essays about treating adults with special health care needs and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Objective: Analyze reflection essays written by one graduating class of students after an initial experience in a clinic for adults with special health care needs (SHCN) and intellectual and developmental disabilities, to draw insights from the patterns of observations expressed.

Methods: Essays were written by students from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine during the 2016-2017 academic year after completing a 1-day clinical experience treating this patient population. Readers identified 18 primary themes (PTs) previously identified in essays written during 2012-2013.