Abstract
BackgroundPeople with physical disability (PWPD) is the largest subgroup of people with disability (PWD) in China, but few studies have been conducted among this vulnerable population. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability and personal attitude towards disability among people with physical disability in China, as well as to identify how QoL can be affected by severity of disability through QOCS and personal attitude towards disability among PWPD.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,853 PWPD in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected on participants’ QoL, QOCS, personal attitude towards disability and severity of disability. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effects of the other variables on QoL.ResultsEven with a mild disability (mean score:1.72), relatively low levels of QoL (mean score: 2.65- 3.22) and QOCS (mean score: 2.95 to 3.28), as well as unfavorable personal attitude towards disability (mean score: 2.75 to 3.36) were identified among PWPD. According to SEM, we found that the influence of severity of physical disability on QoL is not only exerted directly, but is also indirectly through QOCS and their personal attitudes towards disability, with QOCS playing a more important mediating role than PWPD’s attitudes towards their own disability.ConclusionsUnfavorable health status was identified among PWPD in China. Focusing on improvement of assistance and care services has the potential to substantially improve PWPD’s QoL. Further research should focus on understanding the needs and their current state of health care of PWPD in China thus being able to develop better interventions for them.
Highlights
Introduction to Statistical Mediation AnalysisNewYork: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2008.44
The aim of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability, and personal attitude towards disability among People with physical disability (PWPD) in China, as well as to identify how QoL can be affected by severity of disability through QOCS and personal attitude towards disability among PWPD
According to the guidelines of national Disabled Persons’ Federation (DPF) [31], physical disability here is defined as “a loss of motor function of varying degrees or limitation in movements or activities resulting from deformed limbs or body paralysis or from deformity caused by damage to the structure or function of those body parts involved in mobility” [32]
Summary
Introduction to Statistical Mediation AnalysisNewYork: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2008.44. People with physical disability (PWPD) is the largest subgroup of people with disability (PWD) in China, but few studies have been conducted among this vulnerable population. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability and personal attitude towards disability among people with physical disability in China, as well as to identify how QoL can be affected by severity of disability through QOCS and personal attitude towards disability among PWPD. Compared to other types of disability (visual, hearing and speech, intellectual, and mental), people with physical disability (PWPD) account for 30% of people with disability (PWD) in China, constituting the largest subgroup of disability [2]. Existing disability-related studies in China mostly focused on people living with intellectual disability [3], who confront substantially different barriers from PWPD. Information about health needs and barriers for PWPD in China is rarely available
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