Showing papers on "Physical disability published in 1984"

Changes in self-concept following severe head injury.

Abstract: Twenty five severely head injured patients from two specialist neurological rehabilitation centres were interviewed on average seven months post-injury. Changes in self-concept were investigated through the completion of scales of anxiety and depression, an attitude questionnaire relating to physical disability and semantic differential ratings of Present Self, Past (pre-morbid) Self, Future Self, a Typical Person and a Typical Head Injured Person. Psychological distress in terms of anxiety and depressions was common. Patients viewed themselves as having changed substantially as a result of their head injury on a wide range of constructs, yet confidently anticipated a return to Past (pre-morbid) Self within a year, even though Past Self was rated more positively overall than a Typical Person. While differing dramatically from Past Self, Present Self was rated more positively in some respects than the concept of a Typical Head Injured Person, which was perceived as markedly different from that of a Typical Person. Whilst unrealistic expectations may initially serve to protect the profoundly disabled individual and even motivate him towards recovery, in the long run they are more likely to hamper rehabilitation and adjustment. Effective intervention calls for awareness of the patient's own perspective as well as the relatives' reactions to the overt disabilities.

Self-evaluation of life function (self) scale: a short, comprehensive self-report of health for elderly adults

Abstract: The development of a 54-item, multidimensional, self-report scale to measure physical, emotional, and social function is described in regard to reliability, validity, and factor structure. The scale appears to measure the following dimensions: physical disability, symptoms of aging, self-esteem, social satisfaction, depression, and personal control. The scale was derived from two studies of 826 persons age 60 and older. The scale is recommended when a comprehensive, relatively short, self-report assessment is needed for screening or research purposes.

The dimensions of health outcomes: a cross-validated examination of health status measurement.

Abstract: Two independently developed patient outcome measurement instruments were administered to forty-eight subjects with rheumatoid arthritis using a random cross-over design. The independent estimates of physical disability and pain are highly correlated. Each instrument displayed highly significant relationships with global health, providing evidence for convergent validity. The results demonstrate that health status is composed of at least three major dimensions: physical disability, psychological disability, and pain.

Hearing difficulty and its psychological implications for the elderly.

Abstract: A random sample of patients aged 70 and over from a general practice were interviewed in their own homes. Information was sought on their hearing difficulty and mental state: standardised measures of anxiety, depression, and memory loss were used. Of the 657 subjects interviewed, 33% reported having difficulty hearing normal conversations and 6% reported experiencing "much difficulty." Hearing difficulty was associated with both depression and anxiety, but the associations weakened when adjustment was made for physical disability. The association with memory loss disappeared when adjusted for physical disability. There was a close relationship both with age and physical disability.

Physical disability, life stress, and psychosocial adjustment in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: Eighty-one outpatients with diagnosed multiple sclerosis were studied in an effort to examine the relative contributions of physical health status, life stress, duration of illness, age, sex, marital status, and social class on various aspects of personal and interpersonal functioning. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the most significant discriminators of the seven psychosocial measures. Physical health status exerted the broadest influence, affecting personal efficiency and well-being, capacity for independent thought and action, self-confidence, self-reliance, and number of meaningful social contacts. Life stress was associated with lowered personal efficiency and sense of well-being. Duration of illness and the demographic variables had few or no effects on psychosocial adjustment. Discussion contrasts the present findings with others in the rehabilitation literature and specifies certain limitations of the study's design.

Group treatment of physically disabled adults by telephone.

Abstract: Physical disability threatens a person's life style and can be detrimental in its effects on mood and activity. We describe a counseling program for severely disabled persons who were involved in telephone support groups in order to solve problems related to feeling discouraged, lonely, or being too inactive to remain healty. A majority of the participants reported being less anxious and more socially involved as a result of the intervention. Ease with which groups were conducted and positive feedback from participants suggests that research should evaluate the cost effectiveness of phone intervention and explore potential of treating affective problems with scheduled phone contact.

Social support and the quality of life following myocardial infarction

Abstract: A serious illness is a severe threat to the assumptive world, sense of mastery and self-concept of the individual. The quality of life of the person with a chronic disease depends upon the degree to which the patient is able to cope with these and other major adaptive tasks confronting him. The influence of the social environment on successful adaptation and well-being has been investigated in a longitudinal study with a representative sample of male German cardiac patients (N=980). The quality of interpersonal relationships and experienced socio-emotional support were found to affect both the positive and negative dimensions of psychological well-being as defined by Bradburn (1969). Perceived health status, a pivotal variable in the adaptation process, and physical disability mainly influenced the negative dimension.

Adult day care and the nursing home. The appropriateness of care in alternative settings.

Abstract: Adult day-care clients are compared with nursing home applicants who were reviewed and recommended for community or institution-based care. Social, health, and service-use characteristics are contrasted in order to identify factors that distinguish adult day care from nursing home care as an appropriate placement. Socioeconomic status, severity of physical disability, living arrangement, sensory impairment, use of in-home services, and days in the hospital tend to distinguish the groups. The groups are quite similar in demographic characteristics, mental status, frequency of out-patient physician visits, and number and types of diseases. The authors outline criteria that might be used to determine appropriate placement. They also point out the need for future research in order to draw comparisons among different types of adult day-care programs and to develop predictive models for service use and continuity of participation in adult day care.

Educational provision, parental expectation and physical disability

Abstract: Summary This research was focused firstly on the characteristics of 24 physically disabled pupils attending ordinary primary schools, and secondly on the views of their parents concerning external support services and educational provision. There was evidence that the pupils had received a considerable amount of professional attention. However, parents appeared to be disappointed by the quality of service on offer from professional agencies outside the school. By contrast, they expressed strong satisfaction with the response of teachers to the needs of their children.

The Physical Rehabilitation of the Brain-Damaged Elderly

Abstract: Chronic disease and physical disability will seriously affect the lives and function of almost half of those living in the United States at some point in their lifetimes. Of the 20 million disabled people living in the United States, 40 percent are aged 65 or older (Henriksen, 1978). The United States Public Health Service indicates that during a 10-year period, a person in 1 of 10 households will fall victim to stroke (Levenson, 1971). Estimates of the annual incidence of stroke among people aged 65 to 80 range between 870 and 3,430 new cases per 100,000 population (Kurtzke, 1976). In brief, many older people are faced with serious disruption of motor, sensory, and cognitive functions secondary to stroke or other disabling conditions.

Adult Skills Evaluation Survey (ASES) for Persons with Mental Retardation.

Abstract: This paper explains the reasons for developing an assessment tool that would answer the increasingly apparent need for an evaluation instrument to measure developmental levels of performance in programs training adults with mental impairment but little physical disability. The four sections of the assessment are described in terms of content and concepts. The results indicate findings from four years of testing and retesting, providing data useful for appropriate placement in therapy services, for writing measurable goals, for recording progress and for programming tailored to the needs of both individual trainees and groups. The unique contributions of occupational therapists in this field are discussed.