背景:成人大小的更换表允许残疾人或与上厕所相关的医疗状况在有或没有帮助的情况下进行更换。这些桌子在公共厕所里很少见,结果,那些需要它们的人经常在地板上更换,在车辆中,或者无法在公共场所停留超过几个小时。
目的:本研究旨在了解使用成人大小的变化表的个体或者自我倡导者,和照顾残疾人的人,进入公共厕所,并报告改善公共厕所包容性的建议。
方法:我们实际上在2023年2月和3月采访了5名自我倡导者和16名护理人员。我们使用MAXQDA2022对访谈笔录进行了定性分析。
结果:采访中出现了四个主要主题:社会后果,对健康的影响,照顾者的影响,在医疗保健环境中无法进入洗手间。所有护理人员都改变了车辆中的残疾人,和11个在公共厕所楼层,经历内疚和压力,经常受伤。一些受访者报告说,在不可避免的郊游期间,限制了液体的摄入量或使用栓剂以防止需要上厕所。受访者在医疗保健环境中最需要高度可调的变化表,机场,和大型娱乐设施。
结论:没有成人大小的变化表,残疾人被迫冒着健康和尊严的风险利用公共场所。
BACKGROUND: Adult-sized changing tables allow individuals with disabilities or medical conditions related to toileting to change with or without assistance. These tables are rarely found in public restrooms, and as a result, those who need them are often changed on floors, in vehicles, or are unable to stay in public spaces for more than a few hours.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand how individuals who utilize adult-sized changing tables, or self-advocates, and caregivers for disabled people, access public restrooms and to report recommendations to improve inclusivity of public restrooms.
METHODS: We virtually interviewed five self-advocates and sixteen caregivers in February and March 2023. We performed a qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts using MAXQDA 2022.
RESULTS: Four major themes arose during interviews: social consequences, health effects, caregiver effects, and inaccessibility of restrooms in the healthcare setting. All caregivers have changed disabled individuals in vehicles, and 11 on public restroom floors, experiencing guilt and stress, and often receiving injuries. Several respondents reported limiting intake of fluids or using suppositories to prevent the need to toilet during unavoidable outings. Respondents most need height adjustable changing tables in healthcare settings, airports, and large recreational facilities.
CONCLUSIONS: Without adult-sized changing tables, individuals with disabilities are forced to risk their health and dignity to utilize public spaces.