Access to physical therapy in a medically underserved, urban community

Gail M. Huber; Grant Bitzer; Christopher Corazzi; Stephanie Fitzsimmons; Melissa Horgan; Jordan Shelley; Alescia Hollowell; William E. Healey

doi:10.1353/hpu.2019.0055

Access to physical therapy in a medically underserved, urban community

Gail M. Huber^*, Grant Bitzer, Christopher Corazzi, Stephanie Fitzsimmons, Melissa Horgan, Jordan Shelley, Alescia Hollowell, William E. Healey

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

Purpose. Austin is Chicago’s largest community and is 85% African American. The purpose of this study was to the examine facilitators and barriers to physical therapy (PT) access as described by Austin community residents and health care providers (HCPs). Methods. Community residents (n=47) participated in focus groups. Seven HCPs from Austin were interviewed by telephone or in person. All focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results. Austin residents and HCPs reported that having insurance and having a positive view of PT were facilitators to PT access. Barriers included poor proximity to PT clinics, cost, and incomplete knowledge of PT. Conclusions. Three barriers were identified by community residents and HCPs, all are modifiable factors. Future research should focus on increasing awareness about the benefits of PT and developing low-cost PT options. The PT desert identified in this study highlights the needs of underserved communities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	768-788
Number of pages	21
Journal	Journal of health care for the poor and underserved
Volume	30
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2019.0055
State	Published - May 2019

Keywords

Medically underserved
Physical therapy access
Qualitative
Urban

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Access to Document

10.1353/hpu.2019.0055

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Huber, G. M., Bitzer, G., Corazzi, C., Fitzsimmons, S., Horgan, M., Shelley, J., Hollowell, A., & Healey, W. E. (2019). Access to physical therapy in a medically underserved, urban community. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 30(2), 768-788. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2019.0055

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title = "Access to physical therapy in a medically underserved, urban community",

abstract = "Purpose. Austin is Chicago{\textquoteright}s largest community and is 85% African American. The purpose of this study was to the examine facilitators and barriers to physical therapy (PT) access as described by Austin community residents and health care providers (HCPs). Methods. Community residents (n=47) participated in focus groups. Seven HCPs from Austin were interviewed by telephone or in person. All focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results. Austin residents and HCPs reported that having insurance and having a positive view of PT were facilitators to PT access. Barriers included poor proximity to PT clinics, cost, and incomplete knowledge of PT. Conclusions. Three barriers were identified by community residents and HCPs, all are modifiable factors. Future research should focus on increasing awareness about the benefits of PT and developing low-cost PT options. The PT desert identified in this study highlights the needs of underserved communities.",

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author = "Huber, {Gail M.} and Grant Bitzer and Christopher Corazzi and Stephanie Fitzsimmons and Melissa Horgan and Jordan Shelley and Alescia Hollowell and Healey, {William E.}",

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AU - Corazzi, Christopher

AU - Fitzsimmons, Stephanie

AU - Horgan, Melissa

AU - Shelley, Jordan

AU - Hollowell, Alescia

AU - Healey, William E.

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N2 - Purpose. Austin is Chicago’s largest community and is 85% African American. The purpose of this study was to the examine facilitators and barriers to physical therapy (PT) access as described by Austin community residents and health care providers (HCPs). Methods. Community residents (n=47) participated in focus groups. Seven HCPs from Austin were interviewed by telephone or in person. All focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results. Austin residents and HCPs reported that having insurance and having a positive view of PT were facilitators to PT access. Barriers included poor proximity to PT clinics, cost, and incomplete knowledge of PT. Conclusions. Three barriers were identified by community residents and HCPs, all are modifiable factors. Future research should focus on increasing awareness about the benefits of PT and developing low-cost PT options. The PT desert identified in this study highlights the needs of underserved communities.

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