Date
2023
Abstract
One in five adults (21%) in the state of Connecticut is living with a disability of some kind, whether it be intellectual or physical. When compared to people without disabilities, people with disabilities are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression; are more likely not to be able to see a physician due to cost; and have worse self-rated health. Barriers to addressing these disparities are two-fold: primary care physicians lack sufficient guidance on health needs of people with disabilities, and caretakers, who are often either family members or conservators, find themselves stretched thin with responsibilities. To address these two groups of individuals, an interactive infographic was created using the online tool called Venngage. Infographics have been shown to be an effective way to communicate health information to wide populations of people. The infographic features introductory text, key statistics on disability health in the state of Connecticut, and hyperlinks to resources for health care providers and caregivers. Qualitative interviews confirmed the need for such an infographic as a way to close equity gaps and improve health education. The infographic is published online and available to local healthcare providers and community organizations. Next steps include validating the infographic via surveys and focus groups.
Clinical Site
Connecticut Campus
Keywords
disability, health disparities, social determinants of health, infographic
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Disciplines
Medical Education | Primary Care
Recommended Citation
Harkness, Tyler A. BS, "Addressing Distinct Health Needs of People with Disabilities" (2023). Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects. 889.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/889