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How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for people with disabilities and their caregivers and service providers. An assessment of how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public health response to it, inequitably impacted the health and well-being of people with disabilities is...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Rechner, L., Harvey, K.E., Lancaster, S., Horney, J.A.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Elsevier 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10477798/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37675127
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2023.100424
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author Rechner, L.
Harvey, K.E.
Lancaster, S.
Horney, J.A.
author_facet Rechner, L.
Harvey, K.E.
Lancaster, S.
Horney, J.A.
author_sort Rechner, L.
collection PubMed
description OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for people with disabilities and their caregivers and service providers. An assessment of how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public health response to it, inequitably impacted the health and well-being of people with disabilities is needed to improve preparedness for future public health emergencies. Interviews were conducted with the goal of documenting the impacts of COVID-19 on community-dwelling individuals in Delaware. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative interviews using a structured interview guide. METHODS: In November and December 2022, interviews were conducted with individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, governmental and non-profit service providers, and elected representatives in Delaware. Interviews focused on obtaining information related to COVID-related threats to maintaining good health, affordable and accessible housing, work, educational opportunities, transportation, and community belonging during the pandemic. Interview transcripts were inductively analyzed. RESULTS: Five themes were identified including changes to, or loss of, home-based medical and other services, changes in daily routines that impacted access to work and education, limits on access to transportation, financial strains and housing issues, and mental health concerns. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted nearly all aspects of the lives of people with disabilities. COVID-19 presented long-term, existential threats to progress made toward independent living, meaningful work, and financial, health, and educational equity for people with disabilities.
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spelling pubmed-104777982023-09-06 How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware Rechner, L. Harvey, K.E. Lancaster, S. Horney, J.A. Public Health Pract (Oxf) Original Research OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for people with disabilities and their caregivers and service providers. An assessment of how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public health response to it, inequitably impacted the health and well-being of people with disabilities is needed to improve preparedness for future public health emergencies. Interviews were conducted with the goal of documenting the impacts of COVID-19 on community-dwelling individuals in Delaware. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative interviews using a structured interview guide. METHODS: In November and December 2022, interviews were conducted with individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, governmental and non-profit service providers, and elected representatives in Delaware. Interviews focused on obtaining information related to COVID-related threats to maintaining good health, affordable and accessible housing, work, educational opportunities, transportation, and community belonging during the pandemic. Interview transcripts were inductively analyzed. RESULTS: Five themes were identified including changes to, or loss of, home-based medical and other services, changes in daily routines that impacted access to work and education, limits on access to transportation, financial strains and housing issues, and mental health concerns. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted nearly all aspects of the lives of people with disabilities. COVID-19 presented long-term, existential threats to progress made toward independent living, meaningful work, and financial, health, and educational equity for people with disabilities. Elsevier 2023-08-23 /pmc/articles/PMC10477798/ /pubmed/37675127 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2023.100424 Text en © 2023 The Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
spellingShingle Original Research
Rechner, L.
Harvey, K.E.
Lancaster, S.
Horney, J.A.
How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware
title How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware
title_full How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware
title_fullStr How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware
title_full_unstemmed How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware
title_short How COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities: A qualitative study in Delaware
title_sort how covid-19 impacted people with disabilities: a qualitative study in delaware
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10477798/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37675127
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2023.100424
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