A New Disability-related Health Care Needs Assessment Tool for Persons With Brain Disorders.
- Author:
Yoon KIM
1
;
Sang June EUN
;
Wan Ho KIM
;
Bum Suk LEE
;
Ja Ho LEIGH
;
Jung Eun KIM
;
Jin Yong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Disabled persons;
Brain disorders;
Needs assessment;
Unmet needs
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Brain Diseases/*physiopathology;
Disabled Persons/rehabilitation/*statistics & numerical data;
Female;
Health Services Needs and Demand/*statistics & numerical data;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Needs Assessment/*standards
- From:Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
2013;46(5):282-290
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop a health needs assessment (HNA) tool for persons with brain disorders and to assess the unmet needs of persons with brain disorders using the developed tool. METHODS: The authors used consensus methods to develop a HNA tool. Using a randomized stratified systematic sampling method adjusted for sex, age, and districts, 57 registered persons (27 severe and 30 mild cases) with brain disorders dwelling in Seoul, South Korea were chosen and medical specialists investigated all of the subjects with the developed tools. RESULTS: The HNA tool for brain disorders we developed included four categories: 1) medical interventions and operations, 2) assistive devices, 3) rehabilitation therapy, and 4) regular follow-up. This study also found that 71.9% of the subjects did not receive appropriate medical care, which implies that the severity of their disability is likely to be exacerbated and permanent, and the loss irrecoverable. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the HNA tool for persons with brain disorders based on unmet needs defined by physicians can be a useful method for evaluating the appropriateness and necessity of medical services offered to the disabled, and it can serve as the norm for providing health care services for disabled persons. Further studies should be undertaken to increase validity and reliability of the tool. Fundamental research investigating the factors generating or affecting the unmet needs is necessary; its results could serve as basis for developing policies to eliminate or alleviate these factors.
