Disparities between persons with and without disabilities in their participation rates in mass screening.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the number of persons with and without disabilities who participated in the National Health Insurance (NHI) chronic disease mass screening programs in South Korea.


METHODS
The data were obtained from mass screening claims submitted to the NHI and National Disability Registry. Factors affecting the participation rate included demographic variables, socioeconomic status, residential region, and disability type and severity. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between participation rates and disability type and severity adjusted for confounding factors.


RESULTS
The analysis revealed that persons with a disability were less likely to participate in mass screening programs than those without a disability (35.8% vs. 40.2%). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that persons with severe disabilities had lower participation rates than those without disabilities [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63-0.64]. In particular, persons with severe disabilities such as limb, brain, visual and internal organ impairment, were less likely to participate in the mass screening programs. However, persons with mild disability had higher participation rates than those without disabilities (1.03, 1.02-1.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the prevalence rates of chronic diseases are higher among persons with disabilities, various types of impairments such as limb, brain, visual and internal organ impairment, hinder participation in mass screening programs for chronic diseases. The reasons for this disparity must be investigated and health policies must be altered to make preventative treatments more accessible to persons with disabilities.
Park
Jong-Hyock
JH
Division of Cancer Policy and Management, National Cancer Control Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Lee
Jin-Seok
JS
Lee
Jin-Yong
JY
Gwack
Jin
J
Park
Jae-Hyun
JH
Kim
Yong-Ik
YI
Kim
Yoon
Y
D002908:Chronic Disease; D019992:Databases as Topic; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009313:National Health Programs