The World Health Organization’s recently revised model of disability suggests that the extent of participation in society by people with disabilities is a product of both their activity limitations and the environment in which they live. Data from the 1999 Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) tested this conceptual framework through the use of three modules: (1) Quality of Life module with state-added disability questions to measure activity limitations (and quality of life), (2) the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique Short Form (CHART-SF) to measure participation, and (3) the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) to measure the nature and magnitude of environmental barriers. Among the more than 2,200 Colorado BRFSS respondents, a significant negative correlation was found between CHIEF and CHART-SF indicating that increasing environmental barriers were associated with decreasing participation. This relationship was stronger among those with activity limitations. More specific relationships among these measures will be presented using subscales of the CHART-SF and CHIEF along with subsets of individuals with various activity limitations. The potential use of these methodologies for evaluating Healthy People 2010 disability objectives and maintaining ongoing disability surveillance will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. To describe and test conceptual models of disability relating activity limitations, participation, and environmental factors. 2. To present the relationships found in the 1999 Colorado BRFSS modules measuring activity limitations, participation, and environmental factors. 3. To present a model for using the BRFSS in disability surveillance and evaluating Healthy People 2010 disability objectives
Keywords: Disability, Outcome Measures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.