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Lancet (London, England) Dec 2021Rehabilitation has often been seen as a disability-specific service needed by only few of the population. Despite its individual and societal benefits, rehabilitation...
BACKGROUND
Rehabilitation has often been seen as a disability-specific service needed by only few of the population. Despite its individual and societal benefits, rehabilitation has not been prioritised in countries and is under-resourced. We present global, regional, and country data for the number of people who would benefit from rehabilitation at least once during the course of their disabling illness or injury.
METHODS
To estimate the need for rehabilitation, data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 were used to calculate the prevalence and years of life lived with disability (YLDs) of 25 diseases, impairments, or bespoke aggregations of sequelae that were selected as amenable to rehabilitation. All analyses were done at the country level and then aggregated to seven regions: World Bank high-income countries and the six WHO regions (ie, Africa, the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific).
FINDINGS
Globally, in 2019, 2·41 billion (95% uncertainty interval 2·34-2·50) individuals had conditions that would benefit from rehabilitation, contributing to 310 million [235-392] YLDs. This number had increased by 63% from 1990 to 2019. Regionally, the Western Pacific had the highest need of rehabilitation services (610 million people [588-636] and 83 million YLDs [62-106]). The disease area that contributed most to prevalence was musculoskeletal disorders (1·71 billion people [1·68-1·80]), with low back pain being the most prevalent condition in 134 of the 204 countries analysed.
INTERPRETATION
To our knowledge, this is the first study to produce a global estimate of the need for rehabilitation services and to show that at least one in every three people in the world needs rehabilitation at some point in the course of their illness or injury. This number counters the common view of rehabilitation as a service required by only few people. We argue that rehabilitation needs to be brought close to communities as an integral part of primary health care to reach more people in need.
FUNDING
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disabled Persons; Female; Global Burden of Disease; Global Health; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Needs Assessment; Nervous System Diseases; Prevalence; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Sensation Disorders; Sex Distribution; Young Adult
PubMed: 33275908
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32340-0 -
Developmental Medicine and Child... Mar 2023The neurodiversity movement is a social movement that emerged among autistic self-advocates. It has since spread and has been joined by many with diagnoses of... (Review)
Review
The neurodiversity movement is a social movement that emerged among autistic self-advocates. It has since spread and has been joined by many with diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder among others. By reconceptualizing neurodiversity as part of biodiversity, neurodiversity proponents emphasize the need to develop an 'ecological' society that supports the conservation of neurological minorities through the construction of ecological niches-that is, making space for all. This is an alternative to the drive to eliminate diversity through attempts to 'treat' or 'cure' neurodivergence. So far, neurodiversity theory has not been formally adapted for psychotherapeutic frameworks, and it is not the role of the therapist to make systemic changes to societal organization. Still, there is room for fruitfully drawing on a neurodiversity perspective for therapists working with neurodivergent people in clinical settings. Here, we draw on the example of autism and synthesize three key themes to propose the concept of neurodivergence-informed therapy. First, the reconceptualization of dysfunction as relational rather than individual. Second, the importance of neurodivergence acceptance and pride, and disability community and culture to emancipate neurodivergent people from neuro-normativity. Third, the need for therapists to cultivate a relational epistemic humility regarding different experiences of neurodivergence and disablement.
Topics: Humans; Autistic Disorder; Emotions; Disabled Persons
PubMed: 36082483
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15384 -
BMC Geriatrics Jul 2019The number of older people with unmet care and support needs is increasing substantially due to the challenges facing the formal and informal care system in the United... (Review)
Review
Understanding the care and support needs of older people: a scoping review and categorisation using the WHO international classification of functioning, disability and health framework (ICF).
BACKGROUND
The number of older people with unmet care and support needs is increasing substantially due to the challenges facing the formal and informal care system in the United Kingdom. Addressing these unmet needs is becoming one of the urgent public health priorities. In order to develop effective solutions to address some of these needs, it is important first to understand the care and support needs of older people.
METHODS
A scoping review was conducted, using the Arksey and O'Malley original and enhanced framework, to understand the care and support needs of older people, focusing on those living at home with chronic conditions in the UK. The search was conducted using five electronic data bases, grey literature and reference list checks. The WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework was used to analyse and categorise the literature findings.
RESULTS
Forty studies were included in the final analysis- 32 from academic literature and 8 from grey literature. The review highlighted that older adults faced a range of physical, social and psychological challenges due to living with chronic conditions and required care and support in three main areas: 1) social activities and relationships; 2) psychological health; and 3) activities related to mobility, self-care and domestic life. The review also highlighted that many older people demonstrated a desire to cope with their illness and maintain independence, however, environmental factors interfered with these efforts including: 1) lack of professional advice on self-care strategies; 2) poor communication and coordination of services; and 3) lack of information on services such as care pathways. A gap in the knowledge was also identified about the care and support needs of two groups within the older population: 1) older workers; and 2) older carers.
CONCLUSIONS
The review highlighted that older people living with chronic conditions have unmet care needs related to their physical and psychological health, social life, as well as the environment in which they live and interact. Findings of this review also emphasized the importance of developing care models and support services based around the needs of older people.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Caregivers; Chronic Disease; Disabled Persons; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Status; Humans; International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; Mental Health; United Kingdom; World Health Organization
PubMed: 31331279
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-019-1189-9 -
Journal of General Internal Medicine Jul 2019Patient-centered care for people with disability requires effective communication and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
BACKGROUND
Patient-centered care for people with disability requires effective communication and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
OBJECTIVE
To understand physicians' perspectives on communication experiences with people with disability.
DESIGN
Twenty semi-structured individual interviews. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim for analysis.
SETTING
Massachusetts, October 2017-January 2018.
PARTICIPANTS
Twenty physicians ranging from 8 to 51 years in practice in primary care or 4 other specialties.
MEASUREMENTS
Commonly expressed themes around communication with people with disability.
RESULTS
Concerns coalesced around 4 broad categories: communication experiences with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, communication with people who are blind or have vision impairment, communication with people who have intellectual disability, and recommendations for improving communication. Although participants in this study reported various efforts to communicate effectively with patients with hearing or vision loss or intellectual disability, many gaps appear to remain, as well as instances where physicians' preferences run counter to patients' wishes and the ADA. Examples include physicians' preferences for remote, online sign language interpreters despite patients desiring in-person interpreters and suggesting that patients arrange for their own interpreters. Few educational materials are available in braille, and electronic medical records may not allow documents to be printed in large font for persons with low vision. Communicating with patients with intellectual disability raised particular concerns, with participants often preferring to interact with caregivers and minimal efforts to involve patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Effective communication is necessary for ensuring the quality of health care for people with disability, and it is legally required under the ADA. Our results suggest that important gaps may remain in ensuring effective communication, and some practicing physicians could benefit from formal training in effective methods for communicating with patients with disability.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Communication; Communication Barriers; Disabled Persons; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient-Centered Care; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians
PubMed: 30887435
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-04911-0 -
PloS One 2019To know the prevalence, associated factors and temporal trends of disabilities for basic and instrumental activities of daily living in older people in Spain from 2009...
AIMS
To know the prevalence, associated factors and temporal trends of disabilities for basic and instrumental activities of daily living in older people in Spain from 2009 to 2017.
BACKGROUND
Disability in older people is associated with health problems, increased health costs and low quality of life. There are no updated data in Spain with a representative sample about disability.
METHODS
Cross-sectional study with 25,465 non-institutionalized older people who participated in the European Health Survey in 2009 and 2014 and the National Health Survey in 2011/12 and 2017 in Spain. The prevalence rates of disability were evaluated using the Katz Scale and Lawton and Brody Scale. Logistic regression was used to determine if there was an association between basic and instrumental activities of daily living and sociodemographic characteristics.
RESULTS
More individuals had disability for instrumental activities of daily living (31.9%) than disability for basic activities of daily living (11.1%). The most predominant disability for instrumental activities of daily living was performing severe housework (34%). The prevalence of disabilities decreased from 2009 to 2017. In general, disability was associated with female gender, advanced age, lower education, restricted daily activity, being bedridden and higher pain levels.
CONCLUSION
There is a considerable prevalence of disabilities for basic and instrumental activities of daily living in older people in Spain. Although the disability prevalence has decreased slowly from 2009 to 2017, it continues to remain a health problem. Gender may influence the disabilities for basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Health policymakers should establish prevention strategies and effective interventions (e.g., physical exercise) for prevention and reduction of the disabilities for basic and instrumental activities of daily living, particularly in older females.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health Surveys; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Spain
PubMed: 31348797
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220157 -
BMC Geriatrics Nov 2019More than 80% of elderly Americans have at least one chronic disease. While past studies have shown that hierarchical patterns of functional loss may differ by gender...
BACKGROUND
More than 80% of elderly Americans have at least one chronic disease. While past studies have shown that hierarchical patterns of functional loss may differ by gender and institutional settings, little is known about whether such patterns differ in relation to chronic health condition. The aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of functional loss among older adults with major chronic illnesses, and to compare their onset and ordering of incident ADL disability with those of persons without such conditions.
METHODS
We use a nationally representative sample of persons aged 80+ from the 1998-2014 Asset and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old survey. The group with major noncommunicable diseases (including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes) comprises 3,514,052 subjects, while the comparison group comprises 1,073,263 subjects. Self-reports of having difficulty with six distinct ADLs are used to estimate disability incidence rate. Nonparametric statistical methods are used to derive median onset ages and ADL loss sequence separately for each group.
RESULTS
Older adults with major chronic diseases have higher rates of incident disability across all ADL items. Estimated median onset ages of ADL disabilities for the full sample range from 91.5 to 95.6. Disability occurs earlier for chronically ill persons (onset ages 91.1-95.0) than for those in the comparison group (onset ages 93.5-98.1). Among those with major chronic diseases, the ADL loss sequence ordered by median ages of disability onset is bathing, walking, dressing, toileting, transferring and eating. The activities are also distinctly separated into an early-loss cluster and a late-loss cluster. Although the loss sequence derived for the comparison group is largely similar, disability progression for those with major chronic diseases is compressed within a shorter timeframe and the timing gaps between adjacent disabilities are smaller.
CONCLUSIONS
Older Americans with major noncommunicable diseases face an earlier and steeper slope of functional decline. Chronic care delivery programs should adapt to dynamic changes in older patients' functional status. Health interventions to help patients delay disability onset and optimize functional autonomy within emerging models of chronic care should especially target early-loss activities such as bathing, dressing, and walking.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease; Disabled Persons; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Self Care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Walking
PubMed: 31752701
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-019-1348-z -
The Lancet. Global Health Aug 2021
Topics: COVID-19; Data Collection; Disabled Persons; Global Health; Humans
PubMed: 34297946
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00312-0 -
Soins; La Revue de Reference Infirmiere 2020There is often confusion between the notion of disability in everyday life in society and the more specific notion of disability in the workplace. A health problem...
There is often confusion between the notion of disability in everyday life in society and the more specific notion of disability in the workplace. A health problem cannot be considered as a disability in everyday life, even if it makes life less agreeable, but can become one in the context of a professional activity. What and who exactly do we mean when we refer to disabled workers? Here we explore the different types of disabilities and their effects on employment as well as the tools currently available.
Topics: Disabled Persons; Employment; Humans; Workplace
PubMed: 33160463
DOI: 10.1016/S0038-0814(20)30141-9 -
Communications Biology Jul 2021July is Disability Pride Month here in New York, where part of the Communications Biology team is based. To mark this occasion, we are featuring a series of scientist...
July is Disability Pride Month here in New York, where part of the Communications Biology team is based. To mark this occasion, we are featuring a series of scientist interviews on the Nature Portfolio Ecology & Evolution Community site and wanted to elaborate on our motivations behind this post and our hopes for the future concerning the lived experience of disability in science.
Topics: Disabled Persons; Science
PubMed: 34272479
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02411-8 -
European Journal of Public Health Aug 2022The relationship between disability and food insecurity is under-researched. Risk of food insecurity may vary by type and number of disabilities. We examine the...
BACKGROUND
The relationship between disability and food insecurity is under-researched. Risk of food insecurity may vary by type and number of disabilities. We examine the hypotheses that (i) a higher number of disabilities increases risk of food insecurity and (ii) associations of physical disabilities, mental/cognitive disabilities or a combination of both types with food insecurity may differ in strength.
METHODS
Data came from the fifth wave of the UK's Food Standards Agency's Food and You survey (2018), which contains detailed information on disability and household food insecurity. We used logistic and multinomial logistic regression to model the number and type of disabilities as predictors for food insecurity outcomes, controlling for socio-demographic factors.
RESULTS
Both type and number of disabilities predicted food insecurity. Every additional disability was associated with higher odds of food insecurity [odds ratio (OR): 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-1.83]. Among people with a disability, every additional disability was associated with 19% higher odds of food insecurity (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.34). People with both physical and mental/cognitive disabilities had increased odds of severe food insecurity (OR: 8.97, 95% CI: 3.54-22.7).
CONCLUSION
Number and type of disabilities are associated with higher risk of food insecurity. A combination of physical and mental/cognitive disabilities, as well as having multiple disabilities are each independently associated with higher risk of food insecurity. Policy-makers may thus consider using targeted and tailored policies to reduce barriers to social and financial inclusion of disabled people to reduce food insecurity.
Topics: Adult; Disabled Persons; Food Insecurity; Food Supply; Humans; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35560213
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac034