Assessing examination equipment accessibility for the disabled using non-fidelity of checkup items

BACKGROUND: Even after arriving at the hospital for a health checkup, access to equipment of the disabled is often limited. However, there is a lack of investigation on accessibility of health examination equipment due to difficulty in appropriate evaluation. METHODS: The Korean national health information database was analyzed to assess the non-fidelity of health checkup screening items for the disabled and non-disabled. Health checkup items included height, weight, BMI, visual acuity, audiometry, blood pressure, urinary protein, hemoglobin and chest X-ray. To analyze the non-fidelity of health checkup items according to the characteristics of the disabled, a chi-square analysis was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was performed to non-fidelity the influencing factors for non-fidelity of each health checkup item for the disabled and non-disabled. RESULTS: Among all health checkup participants, women's non-fidelity rate of checkup items was twice higher than men's (OR 2.20, 95% CI 2.18-2.21). The disabled were more twice times higher non-fidelity rate than the non-disabled(OR 2.49, 95% CI 2.47-2.52). It was evident in the case of women disabled, severely disabled or elderly disabled(<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The non-fidelity rate of the disabled was high, especially for women disabled, severly disabled or elderly disabled. Even if the disabled visit a hospital for health checkup, access to the equipment may be limited. To increase accessibility to diagnostic equipment and improve access to essential health services, it is important to monitor and support the non-fidelity of each checkup item. KEY MESSAGES: • The disabled are more than twice as likely to have higher non-fidelity rates of health checkup items than the non-disabled. • Especially it was high among women disabled, severely disabled or elderly disabled.