Identification of Health Characteristics of People with Physical Disability by Applying the PRECEDE Model

Abstract

This study aimed to diagnose the health characteristics of people with grade 1–4 physical disability (but without intellectual disability) by analyzing factors affecting their health through social, epidemiological, behavioral, and ecological diagnoses by partially applying the PRECEDE model. Those registered with physical disability in 2022 and attending a welfare center were selected, with samples extracted from Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, and Gyeongsang-do. A total of 1200 people were selected, and the data of 1000 people were finally analyzed. A frequency analysis was performed to identify the participants’ characteristics. An independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were performed to verify the hypotheses. To clarify the relationship between each variable, normality verification, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation model analysis were performed. First, the differences in factors influencing health promotion according to personal background variables (gender, age, and income level), including quality of life, showed partial differences according to age and income level. Second, according to disability-related variables (time of onset and disability grade), quality of life and health status showed partial differences. These results can be used as basic data or indicators to build a health promotion system that considers the health characteristics of individuals with a physical disability.