Abstract
<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>This study explored disability and its correlations with the environmental factors in a group of Iranian older adults.</p><p><strong>MATERIALS &amp; METHODS</strong><strong>:</strong> A cross sectional study was performed. One hundred participants receiving adult day care services in Kahrizak center in Iran were selected by using the complete enumeration method. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2 (WHODAS II) and the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) questionnaires were used to collect data.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The mean score of disability was 20.61±13.66, and the scores were higher in women compared to men (P=0.001). Among the CHIEF-25 items‚ the most frequently perceived barrier by the participants was transportation followed by home design and unavailability of health care services. There was a significant association between the disability scores and the environmental factors (P&lt;0.001). Also, significant relationships were found between the disability and all the subscales investigated in the study (polices‚ physical/structural‚ attitude/support‚ services/assistance) (P&lt;0.001).<strong></strong></p><p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Appropriate transportation‚ availability to health care services and removing physical/structural barriers should be taken in consideration.</p>
Highlights
In the last few decades the attitude towards disability has altered, and recently disability is viewed as the outcome of interaction between health conditions and contextual factors
Among the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF)-25 items‚ the most frequently perceived barrier by the participants was transportation followed by home design and unavailability of health care services
There was a significant association between the disability scores and the environmental factors (P
Summary
In the last few decades the attitude towards disability has altered, and recently disability is viewed as the outcome of interaction between health conditions (diseases‚ disorders and injuries) and contextual factors (environmental and personal factors). This has led to a new definition of disability, introduced by the International Classification of Functioning‚ Disability and Health (ICF): “disability is a multidimensional issue that covers impairment‚ activity limitation and participation restrictions” (WHO, 2001). A medical approach to disability often leads to treatment strategies that focus on individuals and their deficits rather than their function, and environmental barriers. As many authors of the field have expressed, in order to improve rehabilitation services‚ we need to consider the social and environmental factors affecting disability (Dijkers‚ Yavuzer‚ Ergin‚ Weitzenkamp, & Whiteneck, 2002; Ephraim‚ MacKenzie‚ Wegener‚ Dillingham‚ & Pezzin, 2006; Han et al, 2005)
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