May 01, 2008
Access barriers and disparities in the disabled
Posting as part of Blogging Against Disablism Day.
In a 2007 commentary that appeared in JAMA the authors list previous research that demonstrates how disabilities affect treatment.
- Women with major mobility problems were less like to have received a PAP test in the prior three years than women without major mobility issues.
- 45% of women with major mobility issues reported have a mammogram in the previous 2 years vs. 64% of women without mobility issues.
- In a study of Los Angeles County residents with disabilities those who were black, had lower incomes, and were more severely disabled were more likely to report difficulties in accessing clinicians offices.
- In women with breast cancer those who were disabled were less likely to receive radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery.
The authors close with a call to reduce structural barriers and emphasize form and function:
As health care facilities managers renovate structures, construct new buildings, and purchase equipment and furnishings, they should remember legal requirements as well as health care’s therapeutic mission. Environments with barriers will not foster healing and could endanger the safety and experiences of patients and employees. Form follows function. Healing, not handicapping, should guide design of environments to ensure health care access for all persons.
BONUS: The Medical Humanities Blog has the latest Health Wonk Review up. There are even a few Seinfeld references in the mix.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by David Porter at 08:00 AM
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Category: Health Disparities
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