Access barriers to healthcare for people living with disabilities

Hamilton, Natalie; Olumolade, Oluwatoyin; Aittama, Madelyn; Samoray, Olivia; Khan, Maham; Wasserman, Jason Adam; Weber, Kirsten; Ragina, Neli

doi:10.1007/s10389-020-01383-z

Original Article
Published: 10 October 2020

Access barriers to healthcare for people living with disabilities

Natalie Hamilton ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4043-0449¹,
Oluwatoyin Olumolade²,
Madelyn Aittama¹,
Olivia Samoray¹,
Maham Khan¹,
Jason Adam Wasserman³,
Kirsten Weber⁴ &
Neli Ragina¹

Journal of Public Health volume 30, pages 1069–1077 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Aim

This study elucidated healthcare access barriers to receiving adequate services among adults with disabilities. In particular, we utilized community focus groups to contrast urban and rural communities and target improvement in educational services, healthcare policy reform, and outreach programs for this underserved patient population.

Subject and methods

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with adults living with a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities in 12 counties in the Mid-Michigan area. Data were analyzed using narrative coding and conceptualization techniques to identify emergent themes grounded in the data.

Results

Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) a lack of patient-centeredness that impedes the quality of care; (2) inadequate communication that marginalizes patients within the clinical encounter; (3) accessibility barriers that interfere with navigating the healthcare system.

Conclusion

Access to healthcare for people living with disabilities represents a significant challenge, especially in a rural setting. Although improved technology may make healthcare more efficient, the majority of patients with disabilities faced access barriers and implicated deficits in “patient-centered care” as a factor in poor health care experiences.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation for funding this project and the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan for their support and partnership. We would also like to thank Megan Schluentz for her assistance in data support and analysis.

Funding

This research was funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Student Research Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

Central Michigan University College of Medicine, 1280 E. Campus Dr., Mt Pleasant, MI, 48858, USA
Natalie Hamilton, Madelyn Aittama, Olivia Samoray, Maham Khan & Neli Ragina
Central Michigan University College of Health Professions, 1280 E. Campus Dr, Mt Pleasant, MI, 48858, USA
Oluwatoyin Olumolade
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, ODH 412, 586 Dr. Rochester, Pioneer, MI, 48309, USA
Jason Adam Wasserman
Central Michigan University Department of Communication, 1200 S. Franklin St., Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48858, USA
Kirsten Weber

Authors

Natalie Hamilton
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Oluwatoyin Olumolade
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Madelyn Aittama
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Olivia Samoray
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Maham Khan
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Jason Adam Wasserman
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Kirsten Weber
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Neli Ragina
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Correspondence to Natalie Hamilton.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participant were in accordance with ethical standards. The project was considered IRB exempt and approved by the Central Michigan University Institutional Review Board.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained prior to participation in the focus groups for all individual participants included in the study.

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Hamilton, N., Olumolade, O., Aittama, M. et al. Access barriers to healthcare for people living with disabilities. J Public Health (Berl.) 30, 1069–1077 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01383-z

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Received: 21 April 2020
Accepted: 22 September 2020
Published: 10 October 2020
Issue Date: May 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01383-z

Keywords

Disability
Accessibility
Health equity
Patient-centeredness

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

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References

Acknowledgements

Funding

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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Conflict of interest

Ethics approval

Consent to participate

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Appendix

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