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Rural residents with disabilities confront substantial barriers to obtaining primary care.
Lisa I Iezzoni1, Mary B Killeen, Bonnie L O'Day
1Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue RO-137, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Health Services Research
|August 11, 2006
Summary
Rural residents with disabilities face significant health care barriers, including transportation and accessibility challenges. Addressing these requires broader interventions beyond healthcare services.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Disability Studies
- Rural Health
Background:
- Rural populations often face healthcare access challenges.
- Individuals with disabilities encounter unique barriers to healthcare.
- Understanding these intersecting challenges is crucial for equitable care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the healthcare experiences of rural adults with disabilities.
- To identify specific barriers faced by this population.
- To inform targeted interventions for improved healthcare access.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving focus groups with 35 adults with sensory, physical, or psychiatric disabilities.
- Interviews were conducted in rural Massachusetts and Virginia.
- Thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts identified key challenges.
Main Results:
- Disability exacerbates existing rural healthcare barriers.
- Participants reported difficulty finding knowledgeable physicians and accessing specialty care.
- Transportation, cost, insurance (Medicaid), and physical accessibility of facilities were major obstacles.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare needs of rural residents with disabilities are unmet.
- Interventions must address transportation and broader accessibility issues.
- Improving rural healthcare requires a multi-faceted approach beyond clinical services.