Table 5.
The 20 most frequent environmental barriers at entrances and indoors, in different types of housing, N = 371.
| Housing Section and Environmental Barrier 1 |
Multi-Family Dwellings n = 220 | One-Family Dwellings n = 151 | Total N = 371 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrances | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| High thresholds and/or steps (more than 15 mm), (sitting-out place/balcony) | 208 (94.5) | 138 (91.4) | 346 | 0.357 |
| Kitchen, laundry room, utility kitchen | ||||
| No working surfaces with leg room | 209 (95.0) | 141 (96.4) | 350 (94.3) | 0.676 |
| Turning motion of wrist required | 217 (98.6) | 149 (98.7) | 366 (98.7) | 0.524 |
| Use requires hands | 220 (100) | 150 (99.3) | 370 (99.7) | - |
| Use requires fingers (i.e., isolated grip, e.g., pinch and lateral grip) | 219 (99.5) | 145 (96.0) | 364 (98.1) | 0.031 |
| Controls in high/inaccessible position (more than 1.1 m above the floor) | 220 (100) | 150 (99.3) | 370 (99.7) | - |
| Controls in low position (less than 80 cm above the floor) |
220 (100) | 150 (99.3) | 370 (99.7) | - |
| Hygiene area | ||||
| Turning motion of wrist required | 209 (95.0) | 141 (93.4) | 350 (94.3) | 0.875 |
| Use requires hands | 219 (99.5) | 149 (98.7) | 368 (99.2) | 0.410 |
| Controls in high/inaccessible position (more than 1.1 m above the floor) | 218 (99.1) | 148 (98.0) | 366 (98.7) | 0.803 |
| Wash-basin placed at a height for use only when standing | 204 (92.7) | 139 (92.1) | 343 (92.5) | 0.836 |
| Toilet 47 cm or lower | 199 (90.5) | 143 (94.7) | 342 (92.2) | 0.046 |
| Mirror placed at a height for use only when standing | 360 (97.0) | 0.701 | ||
| Storage cupboards, towel hooks, etc. placed high/low | 207 (94.1) | 132 (87.4) | 339 (91.4) | 0.083 |
| Inappropriate design of wardrobes/ clothes cupboards | 194 (88.2) | 142 (94.0) | 336 (90.6) | 0.058 |
| Turning motion of wrist required | 217 (98.6) | 147 (97.4) | 364 (98.1) | 0.986 |
| Use requires hands | 220 (100) | 149 (98.7) | 369 (99.5) | 0.225 |
| Use requires fingers | 216 (98.2) | 149 (98.7) | 365 (98.4) | 0.346 |
| Controls in high/inaccessible position (more than 1.1 m above the floor) | 217 (98.6) | 147 (97.4) | 364 (98.1) | 0.634 |
| Controls in low position (less than 80 cm above the floor) | 220 (100) | 150 (99.3) | 370 (99.7) | - |
1 No barriers in the immediate outdoor environment were found among the top 20 most frequent environmental barriers [41].