TY - JOUR
T1 - Access to physical therapy in a medically underserved, urban community
AU - Huber, Gail M.
AU - Bitzer, Grant
AU - Corazzi, Christopher
AU - Fitzsimmons, Stephanie
AU - Horgan, Melissa
AU - Shelley, Jordan
AU - Hollowell, Alescia
AU - Healey, William E.
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to recognize and thank Christine McCallum, Claire Kohrman, Kelsey Rydland, Virgil Crawford, Mary Brown Walker, Dorothy Peavy, the study participants, and the Westside Health Authority. Northwestern University IRB approved this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© Meharry Medical College.
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
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.
AB - 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.
KW - Medically underserved
KW - Physical therapy access
KW - Qualitative
KW - Urban
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U2 - 10.1353/hpu.2019.0055
DO - 10.1353/hpu.2019.0055
M3 - Article
C2 - 31130550
AN - SCOPUS:85066938181
VL - 30
SP - 768
EP - 788
JO - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
JF - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
SN - 1049-2089
IS - 2
ER -