Journal of Associated Medical Sciences (May 2018)
Effect of rehabilitation program on ability to perform activities of daily living and quality of life of physically disabled persons
Abstract
Background: The encouragement of a continuous rehabilitation program consisted of a manual, training and knowledge distribution about disabilities plus skills with appropriate techniques based on rehabilitation principles, follow-up and visiting the patients, and providing appropriate assistive devices can help the physically disabled persons return to activities of daily living and improve their quality of life. Objectives: To investigate the results of rehabilitation program aimed at helping the physically disabled persons to be able to return to their activities of daily living and improve quality of life. Material and methods: This quasi-experimental research employed one group pretest – posttest design. Thirty physically disabled persons (19 males, 11 females) from Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai were recruited by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A Rehabilitation Program for Physically Disabled Persons with 10 weeks implementation program were developed from the patterns of care given to patients with cerebrovascular disease, from a literature review focusing on rehabilitation, knowledge and skill training for rehabilitation of physically disabled including follow-up and visiting the patients, and the appropriate assistive devices. It was intended to enhance the patient ability to perform their routine activities and to prevent complications. The data collection instruments consisted of activities of daily living assessment, physical complications questionnaire, anxiety and depression assessment, and quality of life questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and McNemar test. Results: After implementing the program, the physically disabled person had a significant increase in the level of ability in performing activities of daily living including mobility and overall activities of daily living (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). The level of quality of life included social relationships, environment and overall quality of life were also increased significantly with p=0.048, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively. They also expressed some physical complications, and it was found that they had a significant increase in ankylosis and pain (p=0.031 and p<0.01, respectively). Additionally, the psychological complications including an anxiety and a depression from anxiety and depression assessment had significantly decreased after participated this rehabilitation program with p<0.001. Conclusion: The rehabilitation program could be used as a guide to help rehabilitate the physically disabled persons in the community to continuously and efficiently improve their quality of life.
