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. 2022 Oct 19;19(20):13519.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013519.

"To Be Treated as a Person and Not as a Disease Entity"-Expectations of People with Visual Impairments towards Primary Healthcare: Results of the Mixed-Method Survey in Poland

Katarzyna Weronika Binder-Olibrowska  1 , Maciek Godycki-Ćwirko  2 , Magdalena Agnieszka Wrzesińska  1
Affiliations

"To Be Treated as a Person and Not as a Disease Entity"-Expectations of People with Visual Impairments towards Primary Healthcare: Results of the Mixed-Method Survey in Poland

Katarzyna Weronika Binder-Olibrowska et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Primary care is the core part of the Polish healthcare system. Improving its quality for vulnerable populations is among the principal goals of global and national health policies. Identifying patients' needs is critical in this process. People who are blind or have low vision often demonstrate comorbidities and require more specific healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of Polish persons with visual impairments when they use primary care services. 219 respondents answered the "Patient value" questionnaire from the project Quality and Costs of Primary Care in Europe (QUALICOPC) and an open question regarding additional patients' needs. Statistical and content analyses were used. The expectations of the study group regarding primary care appeared to be higher than those described in studies among other populations. Equity and accessibility were the most valued dimensions of care. Among particular aspects of care, those connected with psychosocial competencies and awareness of disability among medical staff appeared most frequently. Some personal characteristics were associated with preferences, including age, gender, longstanding conditions, quality of life, and disability-related variables. Our study indicates a need for multilevel interventions in legislation, economics, and medical staff training, with the people-centered approach as the option maximizing chances to meet diverse healthcare needs arising from particular disabilities.

Keywords: Poland; disability; general practice; health services research; healthcare needs; patient expectations; patient preferences; primary health care; quality of care; visual impairment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean PVIs’ expectations towards four PHC dimensions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Categories of PVI’s needs in the total group and among the blind and poor-sighted.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Visualization of expectations towards PHC in PVIs and the general population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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