141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

288474
An examination of health-related quality of life, health status, and access to health services of students with disabilities in a rural versus urban area

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Ashley Walker, PhD, CHES , Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Moya Alfonso, MSPH, PhD , Jiann Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Gavin Colquitt, Ed.D., CAPE , Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Li Li, PhD , Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Krissy Kendall, PhD , Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Purpose: Young people with disabilities are faced with many restrictions for participation in the school and community, particularly in rural schools. These converging barriers create the need to examine the effect of context on students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to compare health-related quality of life, health status, and access to health services of students with disabilities in a rural versus urban area.

Methods and Results: The study methodology will involve a descriptive, comparative mixed-methods design. Using the National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, one urban and one rural school district in Georgia were solicited for participation. Data were collected via survey instruments and in-depth interviews. Versions of the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), and Child Health and Illness Profile (CHIPs) were used to examine self- and parent-reported levels health and self- and parent-reported health-related quality of life. A small subsample of the parents in each context were included for participation in individual qualitative interviews based on the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs 2009-2010. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using content analysis, the transcriptions were analyzed for emerging themes. Means for subscales on the PODCI and CHIPS were calculated for students and parents in both rural and urban areas and group differences were examined via multivariate analyses. Results from the needs assessment are in progress.

Conclusion: The results will provide information for public health professionals to improve services provided to young people with disabilities.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the effect of context on the health-related quality of life, health status, and access to health services of students with disabilities. List three barriers to access to healthcare services of individuals with disabilities. Explain practical guidelines to improve services provided to young people with disabilities

Keywords: Disability, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a certified health educator and have been the principal or co-principal on different needs assessment projects.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.