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Table 1 Operational definition, measures, and score distributions for each access ability

From: Does healthcare inequity reflect variations in peoples’ abilities to access healthcare? Results from a multi-jurisdictional interventional study in two high-income countries

Operational Definition Ability to…

Measure

Score

Mean (SD)

Score

Median

(Q1; Q3)

Perceive: capacity to identify health need and the need to seek care

(no measure)

Seek: knowledge about available and acceptable healthcare options and right to receive care and personal autonomy to choose

Ease1 of finding health information by self, which services have right to receive, finding needed healthcare, deciding which health professional to see

(4 items, range 1–4)

2.8 (0.8)

3.0 (2.3; 3.5)

Reach: capacity to overcome personal mobility and/or transportation barriers to travel to site of care

Ease of travelling to usual clinic

(1 item, range 1–4)

3.4 (0.9)

4.0 (3.0; 4.0)

[In]ability to Pay: capacity to meet direct and indirect costs of care without negative impact on basic needs

Reported inability to pay for prescribed medications, laboratory tests

(2 items, range 1–3)2

1.1 (0.3)

1.0 (1.0; 1.0) 16.7%, at least one barrier

Engage: ability to participate actively in decision-making and treatment decisions, including self-management

Explain: Ease of explaining needs to health professionals

(1 item, range 1–4)

3.2 (1.0)

3.0 (2.0; 4.0)

Manage: Does doctor or nurse give you sense of control over health, confidence to take care of health (2 items, range 1–4)3

3.3 (0.9)

3.5 (3.0; 4.0)

  1. 1 Response options: 1, not at all easy; 2, not very easy; 3, moderately easy; 4, very easy
  2. 2 How often did you NOT take 1) prescribed drugs or 2) laboratory tests because of cost: 1, never; 2, occasionally; 3, often
  3. 3 Response options: 1, not at all; 2, not really; 3, to some extent, 4, definitely
  4. Abbreviations: SD standard deviation