OBJECTIVES: Disability is a term referring to the inability to carry out daily functioning expected of an average person often referring to as impairments. Disability is given different definitions by people based on their understanding of disability. This study examined the definition of disability as perceived by Market Access (MA) and Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) professionals.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered at the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Baltimore 2018 conference. Two hundred and twenty-one (221) responses were collected, out of which 172 participants defined disability based on their understanding and experience. Responses were categorised as follows: impairment (any form of impairment), activity limitation (inability to partake in activities), social limitation (not been able to partake in social activities), functional limitation (inability to carry out daily living tasks) and physical appearance (body appearance). Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses were carried out.

RESULTS: Out of 172 responses, 43 (25%) participants were from pharmaceutical industry, 40 (23%) Academic, 57 (33%) Consultants, 3 (2%) Health Technology Assessment (HTA), 9 (5%) Healthcare Professionals, 3 (2%) Payers, and 17 (10%) Others. Their responses were categorised as follows starting with the most frequency theme to the least: Activity limitation 153 (89%) Functioning limitation 144 (84%), Impairment 129 (75%), Physical appearance 121 (70%) and Social limitation 67 (39%).

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the participants’ defined disability in term of activity limitation, functioning limitation, impairments, physical appearance and social limitation in this order. This means that disability is perceived by this group as physical, sensory, cognitive, and intellectual limitations rather than in terms of social limitation. This suggests that social limitation is not as frequently thought of in association with disability and could be overlooked. MA and HEOR professionals may benefits from training programmes on disability to help them better understand the concept.