Accessibility of primary care physician practice sites in South Carolina for people with disabilities
Accessibility of primary care physician practice sites in South Carolina for people with disabilities
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DOI：
10.1016/j.dhjo.2008.06.001
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发表时间：
2008-10-01
影响因子：
4.5
通讯作者：
Mann, Joshua R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Graham, Catherine Leigh;Mann, Joshua R.
背景：初级保健医生办公室为残疾人提供的保健服务的质量和水平可能受到这种做法的无障碍程度的极大影响。本研究的目的是评估南卡罗来纳初级保健医师诊所对行动不便或感觉残疾人士的可及性。方法：通过两个不同的网络联系初级保健办公室，其中68个同意修改无障碍评估。在每次访问之前，收集实践特征。康复工程师使用卷尺、倾斜仪和体重秤评估了93个特定的无障碍项目。调查项目取自美国残疾人法案无障碍指南（ADAAG）。结果：可达性水平差异较大；在70%的评估项目中，平均实践被认为是适当的。总体可达性最强的预测指标是建筑年份或最近的装修。在控制建造年份时，医院拥有的建筑物明显更容易进入（P = 0.04）。通常缺乏的可达性的关键方面包括汽车和货车无障碍停车位，杠杆门把手，洗手间的空地和扶手，TTY电话或助听器兼容的电话，轮椅可达的秤，以及可调节高度的检查台。结论：南卡罗莱纳州初级保健诊所可达性不理想。需要进行研究，以确定鼓励初级保健实践的有效方法，使其实践充分可及。(C) 2008爱思唯尔公司版权所有。
Background: Quality and level of health care provided for people with disabilities at primary care physician's offices can be drastically impacted by the level of accessibility of the practice. The study goal was to assess the accessibility of primary care physician practices sites in South Carolina for people with mobility or sensory disabilities.Methods: Primary care offices were contacted through two different networks, and 68 agreed to a modified accessibility assessment. Prior to each visit, practice characteristics were gathered. The rehabilitation engineer assessed the sites for 93 specific accessibility items using a tape measure, inclinometer, and weight scale. The survey items were taken from the American with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).Results: The level of accessibility varied substantially; the average practice was deemed adequate on 70% of the items assessed. The strongest predictor of overall accessibility was the year of construction or most recent renovation. Hospital-owned buildings were significantly more accessible (P = 0.04) when controlling for year built. Key aspects of accessibility that were often lacking included car-and van-accessible parking, lever door handles, clear floor space and grab bars in the restroom, TTY telephone or a hearing aid-compatible telephone, wheelchair accessible scale, and an adjustable-height examination table.Conclusion: The accessibility of primary care practice sites in South Carolina is suboptimal. Research is needed to identify effective approaches for encouraging primary care practices to make their practices fully accessible. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.