Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (10): 1216-1226.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.10.010

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Comparison of influencing mechanisms of accessible facility utilization behavior in eastern and central-western China

Sun Heqi1,2, Lü Jun1,3(), Li Xiaohong1,3, Chen Tianyi1,3, Wang Kedi1,3, Kong Fanlei4,5,6, Chen Gang1,3   

  1. 1 China Research Center on Disability, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
    2 Fudan Institute on Ageing, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
    3 School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
    4 School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
    5 National Health Commission Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research (Shandong University), Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
    6 Center for Health Management and Policy Research, Shandong University (Shandong Provincial Key New Think Tank), Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
  • Received:2026-01-05 Revised:2026-01-26 Accepted:2026-01-26 Published:2026-10-25 Online:2026-10-23
  • Contact: Lü Jun E-mail:lujun@shmu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(72274038);National Natural Science Foundation of China(72574130);National Social Sciences Foundation of China (Major)(17ZDA078)

Abstract:

Objective To examine the influencing mechanisms and regional differences in accessible facility utilization behavior among residents in eastern and central-western China.

Methods Data were collected through the online questionnaire administered to residents across China using snowball sampling. Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests were conducted to compare the basic characteristics of respondents between the two regions. Welch's t test was used to compare accessible facility utilization behavior and its influencing factors. Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to compare the influencing mechanisms of accessible facility utilization behavior between eastern and central-western China.

Results A total of 1 039 valid responses were obtained, including 604 from the eastern region and 435 from the central-western region. Residents in eastern regions scored significantly higher than those in central-western regions on both facility-seeking (t = 4.057, P< 0.001) and actual-using (t = 4.551, P< 0.001) behavior. The structural equation models for both regions showed identical and satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices (GFI = 0.950, AGFI = 0.932, IFI = 0.947, CFI = 0.947, RMSEA = 0.028), and all measurement and structural invariance tests met the recommended criteria. Facility configuration showed no significant direct effect on utilization behavior in eastern China, whereas a negative direct effect was observed in central-western China (β = -0.171, P= 0.047), with its influence mainly exerted indirectly through social cognition and user experience. Social cognition and user experience had significant positive effects on utilization behavior (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, social cognition indirectly influences utilization behavior through the mediating path of usage experience. The direct effects of social cognition (β = 0.406) and user experience (β = 0.510) in central-western China were greater than those in eastern China (β = 0.369 and β = 0.335, respectively). The chain mediation effect of "configuration-cognition-experience-behavior" was statistically significant in both regions (P < 0.05), with larger indirect effects observed in central-western China.

Conclusion Facility configuration has a limited direct effect on accessible facility utilization, whereas social cognition and user experience play a central role, particularly in central-western China. It is recommended that the construction and renovation of accessible facility be guided by population needs, accompanied by strengthened promotion of accessibility concepts and policies, and that a transition from hardware-oriented construction to service- and management-oriented governance of accessible environments should be promoted in central-western China.

Key words: accessible facility, utilization behavior, influencing mechanism, regional differences, structural equation modeling

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