Qualitative Study for Health Care Service Use among the Visually Impaired in Korea

Abstract

Individuals with visual impairments face many challenges in their daily lives, and among these challenges is accessibility to health care services. Despite increasing awareness of the importance of accessibility for the disabled, research focused on the actual conditions of health care use among the visually impaired is insufficient. This study investigates the health care service utilization of individuals with visual impairments and identifies coping strategies for guaranteeing their rights to accessible health care services and support. Comprehensive interviews with 15 participants were conducted and data were analyzed using the principles of grounded theory. Through this analysis, 29 subcategories emerged from 63 concepts, and these were categorized into 13 main categories. The study revealed that the visually impaired were significantly more likely to report difficulties accessing health care services. Participants had a higher probability of experiencing a variety of barriers, including lack of information, difficulty with transportation, difficulty using facilities, discrimination by others, and anxiety or lack of confidence as a result of these barriers. Therefore, significant changes to the provision of health care services is needed as the current barriers are likely to exacerbate health inequalities for the visually impaired and may increase the likelihood of developing additional ailments.