Health Policy Manag.  2020 Sep;30(3):335-344. 10.4332/KJHPA.2020.30.3.335.

Accessibility Factors to Health Check-Ups for People with Disability: A Qualitative Study

• Hong HS
• Lim MJ
• Kim OS
• Choi ES
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2507302
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2020.30.3.335

Abstract

Background
The purpose of this study was to identify factors inhibiting access of people with disability to health check-ups as well as identify pertinent solutions for improvement.
Methods
Twenty-three people with disability older than the age of 19 who took respective health check-ups within the last 3 years were selected as participants. For the data collection, the 1:1 intensive interview was used. The data were analyzed by the grounded theory by Corbin and Strauss.
Results
The results comprised nine categories, 23 subcategories, and 179 concepts. The central phenomenon was ‘failure to obtain check-ups.’ Causal conditions were observed as a ‘lack of communication method,’ ‘physical difficulties,’ and ‘staff unfamiliar with people with disability,’ Interventional conditions comprised ‘physical accessibility,’ ‘staffs’ competency,’ and ‘assistant manpower.’ The active strategy was included ‘to investigate the professional medical institution,’ ‘to find the medical institution of convenient traffic accessibility,’ ‘to overcome communication difficulties through equipment,’ and ‘to overcome linguistic barriers through sufficient communication.’ Whereas, ‘utilization of ancillary equipment,’ ‘the education of staffs on people with disability,’ ‘universal design manual,’ and ‘customized check-ups’ were included in the passive strategy. Such processes arose in the contextual conditions of ‘lack of expectations for daily lives’ and ‘lack of government support.’ As a consequence, the subjects participated experienced the ‘disadvantages,’ ‘discrimination,’ and ‘reduced reliability of the health check-ups.’
Conclusion
The subjects who participated in this study emphasized ‘staffs familiar with people with disability’ and ‘systems customized for people with disability’ are mandatory to secure complete health check-ups for people with disability.

Keyword

Health check-ups; Disability; Health and welfare policy; Qualitative research; Physical examination