Title
Predicting Barriers to Primary Care for Patients with Disabilities: A Mixed Methods Study of Practice Administrators
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2013
Publication Title
Disability and Health Journal
Volume
6
Issue
2
First page number:
116
Last page number:
123
Abstract
Background
People with disabilities continue to be identified as a group who experience disparate health/health care. They are less likely to engage in some health care services. Structural barriers are often identified as one of the reasons for the underutilization of some health care services by people with disabilities. However, to date no study has been conducted to understand why structural barriers persist twenty years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law.
Objectives
We examined the relationship between primary care practice administrators' knowledge of the ADA and the number of accessibility barriers that patients with mobility disabilities might encounter.
Methods
Primary care practice administrators who were members of a medical management organization were surveyed between December 20, 2011, and January 17, 2012. A mixed methods research design was employed. Data were analyzed using a Guttman scale, linear and multiple linear regression.
Results
ADA knowledge questions conformed to a valid Guttman scale. There was a significant inverse relationship between practice administrators' knowledge of the ADA and the number of barriers reported in their clinics. Age of the administrators and buildings built before 1993 were also significant predictors of the number of barriers.
Conclusion
This study helps to identify medical practices that are more likely to have access barriers and have the greatest need for ADA compliance interventions. Results from this study highlight practice administrators' need for specific knowledge of the ADA as it applies to their medical practice. Efforts are needed to improve disability training for health professionals.
Keywords
Americans with Disabilities Act; Health facilities – Barrier-free design; Health services accessibility; Patients with disabilities; People with disabilities; Practice administrators; Structural barriers
Disciplines
Community Health | Disability Law | Health and Medical Administration
Language
English
Permissions
Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the article. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the article will be deposited
Repository Citation
Pharr, J. R.,
Chino, M.
(2013).
Predicting Barriers to Primary Care for Patients with Disabilities: A Mixed Methods Study of Practice Administrators.
Disability and Health Journal, 6(2),
116-123.