Abstract
BackgroundMaking the built environment accessible for all regardless of functional capacity is an important goal for public health efforts. Considerable impediments to achieving this goal suggest the need for valid measurements of acccessibility and for greater attention to the complexity of person-environment fit issues. To address these needs, this study aimed to provide a methodological platform, useful for further research and instrument development within accessibility research. This was accomplished by the construction of a typology of problematic person-environment fit constellations, utilizing an existing methodology developed to assess and analyze accessibility problems in the built environment.MethodsBy means of qualitative review and statistical methods we classified the person-environment fit components covered by an existing application which targets housing accessibility: the Housing Enabler (HE) instrument. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used as a conceptual framework. Qualitative classification principles were based on conceptual similarities and for quantitative analysis of similarities, Principal Component Analysis was carried out.ResultsWe present a typology of problematic person-environment fit constellations classified along three dimensions: 1) accessibility problem range and severity 2) aspects of functioning 3) environmental context. As a result of the classification of the HE components, 48 typical person-environment fit constellations were recognised.ConclusionsThe main contribution of this study is the proposed typology of person-environment fit constellations. The typology provides a methodological platform for the identification and quantification of problematic person-environment fit constellations. Its link to the globally accepted ICF classification system facilitates communication within the scientific and health care practice communities. The typology also highlights how relations between aspects of functioning and physical environmental barriers generate typical accessibility problems, and thereby furnishes a reference point for research oriented to how the built environment may be designed to be supportive for activity, participation and health.
Highlights
For health promotion and public health efforts, it is vitally important to foster physical environments supportive of activity, participation and health [1]
In order to explore the potential for valid extension of the Enabler methodology (EM) to other environmental arenas, this study aimed to provide a methodological platform useful for further research and instrument development within the field of accessibility research
By use of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) we first arrived at principal components, that accounted for the total variation of the scores across the functional limitations
Summary
For health promotion and public health efforts, it is vitally important to foster physical environments supportive of activity, participation and health [1]. One aspect which deserves specific attention in this regard concerns the relationship between the person and the built environment [2] This relationship concerns the degree to which access to utilities in the environment is facilitated or obstructed, depending on the functional capacity of individuals. Making the built environment accessible for all regardless of functional capacity is an important goal for public health efforts. Considerable impediments to achieving this goal suggest the need for valid measurements of acccessibility and for greater attention to the complexity of person-environment fit issues. To address these needs, this study aimed to provide a methodological platform, useful for further research and instrument development within accessibility research. Based on the original scoring of the Enabler Concept [9], the scoring has been successively validated over the years, taking advantage of the results of empirical research as well as expert opinions from different professions, such as occupational therapy and architecture [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
