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Assessing Eye Clinic Accessibility: A Study Validating and Applying the SiteWise Survey.
Jason Dossantos1,2, Anne T Riddering3, Laura C M Ndjonko4
1School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Translational Vision Science & Technology
|October 29, 2024
Summary
The SiteWise survey reliably assesses clinic accessibility for visually impaired patients. Hospital clinics are more accessible than satellite clinics, though outdoor areas need improvement.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Healthcare Accessibility
- Quality Improvement
Background:
- Assessing the accessibility of healthcare facilities is crucial for ensuring equitable patient care.
- Visually impaired patients face unique challenges in navigating clinical environments.
- Validated tools are needed to systematically evaluate and improve clinic accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the SiteWise survey as a reliable instrument for evaluating outpatient ophthalmology clinic accessibility.
- To compare the accessibility of hospital-based versus satellite clinics for visually impaired individuals.
- To identify specific areas within clinics that require accessibility enhancements.
Main Methods:
- A quality improvement study conducted from January to December 2023.
- The SiteWise survey was used by independent surveyors to assess design features in nine clinics (two hospital-based, seven satellite).
- Reliability was assessed using Krippendorff's alpha; accessibility scores were compared using statistical analyses.
Main Results:
- The SiteWise survey demonstrated high reliability (Krippendorff's alpha = 0.99).
- Hospital-based clinics achieved higher accessibility scores (78.9%) than satellite clinics (71.3%, P < 0.05).
- Parking lots/sidewalks and stairways scored lowest (61%), indicating areas needing significant improvement.
Conclusions:
- The SiteWise tool is a reliable and effective method for identifying accessibility deficiencies in ophthalmology clinics.
- While indoor clinic areas generally scored well, outdoor and transitional spaces require substantial improvements.
- Enhancing accessibility in these areas is vital for meeting the needs of visually impaired patients.
