Concern about falling (CaF) can emerge after experiencing a fall or recognizing personal fall risk. High CaF may lead to activity curtailment, greater fall risk, and reduced quality of life and participation in full-time wheelchair/scooter (WC/S) users. Identifying predictors of CaF can help clinicians address CaF in rehabilitation interventions. To examine predictors of CaF among individuals living with various health conditions who use WC/S full-time. This cross-sectional online survey included adults who used WC/S full-time for at least one year and had experienced at least one fall in the prior three years. Path analysis identified predictors of CaF, measured by the Fall Concerns Scale for people who use WC/S (FCS-WC/S). 137 people who use WC/S full-time (63% male, 37% female) participated. Being younger (p<.05), being male (p <.05), having experienced at least one fall-related injury in the past year (p<.01), having a higher impact of chronic dizziness on physical, emotional, and functional well-being (p<.001), inability to get up from the ground independently (p<.01), and lower burden of depressive symptoms (p< .05) were predictors of increased levels of CaF. This study's findings suggest that the influences of CaF among people who use WC/S are multifactorial. Awareness of these predictors can help researchers and clinicians develop screenings to better identify people who use WC/S with high levels of CaF and develop treatment plans to effectively manage CaF.

Few studies have quantified the higher cost of living with a disability and the extent of unmet needs for disability-related goods and services as experienced by adults with disabilities in the U.S. To provide national estimates of total annual out-of-pocket disability-related expenditures, their burden, and the prevalence of unmet needs, and to investigate whether persons with disabilities from underserved communities experience disparate impacts from "the disability squeeze." We designed and fielded a survey in June of 2023 to a nationally representative sample of adults with disabilities through the Understanding America Study, an online panel survey. Multivariate regression analyses examine correlates with out-of-pocket expenditures, the financial burden of the expenditures, and unmet needs. Among 1168 working-age adults with disabilities, mean annual expenditures on disability-related goods and services was $5341 in June 2023, equating to 20% of household income. Additionally, 67% of adults with disabilities reported an unmet need. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, adults with disabilities with incomes below the federal poverty level reported significantly lower expenditures (p<.05) but greater financial burden from their out-of-pocket expenses (p<.05). Hispanic persons with disabilities also reported significantly lower expenditures (p<.05) but higher rates of unmet need (p<.05). Adults with disabilities in the U.S. experience considerable financial strain from their disability-related expenses and sustain high rates of unmet needs with disproportionate impacts identified for those from underserved communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique challenges for people with disabilities, highlighting significant structural disparities in access to essential health information and services. In Vietnam, these challenges are pronounced, necessitating an investigation into the experiences of people with disabilities during the pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of people with disabilities in three major cities in Vietnam in accessing COVID-19 information and adhering to preventive measures. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 adults with disabilities from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Participants were purposively selected from government registers based on age, gender, residence location, and disability type. Data were analysed thematically. Respondents revealed significant barriers to accessing information on COVID-19 prevention. Key issues included the use of technical language, combined with low literacy among respondents, poor access to assistive and information-communication technology, and lack of accessible information formats or unsuitable adaptations. Difficulties in implementing preventive measures and heightened anxiety were common among participants, leading some to be unable to adequately protect themselves, while others undertook additional, unconventional measures. This research emphasizes the urgency of redefining disability inclusion in public health responses, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Tailored guidance and resources are essential to address the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities to ensure equitable health outcomes.