James Tyler G, Hughes Sarah, Moran Christa, Day Sherry, McKee Michael M
Department of Family Medicine and Center for Disability Health and Wellness, University of Michigan, 1018 Fuller St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States, 1 734-998-4797.
ASL Interpreter Services, Office of Patient Experience, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2025 Jul 3;12:e64666. doi: 10.2196/64666.
People with disabilities are a priority population for health services research. People who are blind or have low vision (B/LV) are a segment of this priority population, who experience difficulty in accessing health care facilities due to architectural and navigational barriers. These barriers persist despite disability civil rights law in the United States.
The purpose of this study is to report on a program that was developed to train way finders in human guide technique for people who are B/LV.
This study took place at Michigan Medicine, an academic medical center in southeast Michigan. We conducted a needs assessment through cohort discovery and soliciting expert feedback. The human guide training program was developed using the PRECEDE-PROCEED health promotion program development model and targeted health care volunteers and staff. The intended components included in-person training, a web-based module, and tip sheets. Due to COVID-19, the in-person training was not implemented. We report findings from a process evaluation, measuring reach, knowledge, behavioral capability, and satisfaction pre- and postprogram.
In total, 87 participants completed the training, and most of them were Michigan Medicine volunteers. There were significant improvements in behavioral capability related to the human guide technique. Participants were satisfied with the training and provided recommendations for more detailed demonstrations and scenarios in future training sessions.
The training improves participants' knowledge and confidence in providing wayfinding assistance to patients who are B/LV. However, further in-person training is recommended to provide hands-on experience and detailed feedback. Addressing architectural barriers and providing accessible patient education materials is crucial for improving health care accessibility for patients who are B/LV.
残疾人群体是卫生服务研究的重点人群。失明或视力低下者是这一重点人群的一部分，他们由于建筑和导航障碍，在获取医疗保健设施方面存在困难。尽管美国有残疾民权法，但这些障碍依然存在。
本研究旨在报告一个为失明或视力低下者培训人类引导技术引路员的项目。
本研究在密歇根东南部的一家学术医疗中心密歇根医学中心进行。我们通过队列发现和征求专家反馈进行了需求评估。人类引导培训项目是使用PRECEDE-PROCEED健康促进项目开发模型开发的，目标是医疗保健志愿者和工作人员。预期组成部分包括面对面培训、基于网络的模块和小贴士。由于新冠疫情，面对面培训未实施。我们报告了一项过程评估的结果，该评估测量了项目前后的覆盖范围、知识、行为能力和满意度。
共有87名参与者完成了培训，其中大多数是密歇根医学中心的志愿者。与人类引导技术相关的行为能力有显著提高。参与者对培训感到满意，并为未来培训课程中更详细的演示和场景提供了建议。
该培训提高了参与者为失明或视力低下患者提供寻路帮助的知识和信心。然而，建议进一步开展面对面培训，以提供实践经验和详细反馈。消除建筑障碍并提供无障碍患者教育材料对于提高失明或视力低下患者的医疗保健可及性至关重要。
