A Method for Investigating Access to Diaper Changing Stations in Restaurants

Parents and caretakers of young children need diaper changing stations (DCSs) to fully utilize public and commercial spaces, but few studies measure their availability. We developed a method for assessing the availability of DCSs in restaurant restrooms through phone interviews and validated the results using in-person visits. This study tested a phone interview methodology for investigating availability within restaurants, and the extent to which DCSs were accessible to both male and female caregivers. In May of 2019, phone interviews were conducted to survey the employees of 60 Philadelphia restaurants with a public restroom available to patrons to determine whether they had unisex or gendered restrooms, a DCS, and accessibility to a DCS for both male and female caregivers. Each interview was followed by an in-person audit. During phone interviews, 10 (16.7%) restaurants reported having and 50 (83.3%) reported not having DCSs. In-person audits confirmed 59 of 60 (98.3%) phone interview responses about the presence of DCSs (Cohen’s kappa: 0.94) and 55 of 60 (91.7%) reports of restroom types (Cohen’s kappa: 0.83). In this study, the phone interview methodology accurately identified the presence of DCSs in restaurants. This methodology can be used to identify disparities and to advocate for policy changes to improve access to DCSs for all who need them.