OBJECTIVE: To assess the number and content of disability-related articles in recent public health research literature. METHOD: Research articles in American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), Public Health Reports, Canadian Journal of Public Health, and Public Health from 1992 through 2000 are classified as dealing with impairment only or disability (activity limitation) and handicap (participation restriction) and with social environment as factor creating disability. This is based on their dependent and independent variables and units of analysis. RESULTS: Among 1636 AJPH papers examined, 160 (9.8%) had disability content, exclusive of internal organ impairments, HIV or substance abuse. 108 (6.6%) dealt with impairment(54 in 1992-1996, and 54 in 1997-2000) and 52(3.2%) dealt with activity limitation or participation restriction (10 in 1992-1996 and 42 in 1997-2000). The ratio of papers scoring only ADLs in elderly people to those scoring other activity limitations in a broader age range reversed from 21/6 until 1997 to 5/20 from 1998 on. No paper dealt specifically with the social environment in creating disability. Preliminary results from the other journals are consistent with these CONCLUSIONS: Despite some movement after 1997, public health research literature follows the medical model which focuses on the body (impairment) rather than the social model which focuses on individual and social function and on the role of environment in the creation of disability.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the participant should be able to assess the content of public health research literature in relation to the medical and the social models of disability.
Keywords: Disability, Public Health Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.