Thilo Kroll, PhD¹, Melinda Neri, BA², Gwyn C. Jones, PhD², Marcie Goldstein, MA³, and Sally Michaels, BA³. (1) Center for Health and Disability Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital, 102 Irving St., NW, Washington, DC 20010-2949, 202-877-1031, thilo.kroll@medstar.net, (2) National Rehabilitation Hospital Center for Health and Disability Research, 1016 16th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, (3) ENDependence Center Northern Virginia, 3100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Background. People with physical disabilities are less likely to receive primary preventive care services than the general population. They are also at greater risks for an earlier onset of secondary conditions such as cardiovascular disease and loss of bone mineral density. This study determines barriers for access to and use of primary preventive services in Northern Virginia and develops strategies and resource materials to improve primary prevention for people with physical disabilities. Methods. We conducted five focus groups with 40 adults with physical disabilities, and an Internet poll about experiences with primary preventive services. Individuals with physical disabilities closely cooperated with researchers on focus group and poll design, implementation and analyses. Results. Respondents reported several barriers compromising primary preventive service use, including the lack of accessible information, inappropriate screening equipment, lack of communication about prevention issues between physicians and individuals with disability, and lack of physician time for health risk counseling. Respondents proposed strategies to improve access and developed ideas for a resource kit focusing on information dissemination, preparation of physician visits, and recommendations for equipment and facility accessibility. Conclusions. Adults with disabilities face multiple barriers to obtaining needed primary preventive services. The community-based development of primary preventive resource kits may help facilitate access and use of these services for people with physical disabilities. The Northern Virginia program will produce a template for such resource information, which can be implemented with modifications elsewhere.

Learning Objectives:

• · To recognize the benefits of participatory community involvement in designing health education programs.
• · To identify the community-specific primary prevention needs of people with physical disabilities
• · To describe preferred health education formats and content from a consumer perspective

Keywords: Health Education Strategies, Disability Studies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.