Fysioterapeuten (Mar 2010)
Short statured in Norway: Employment, bodily complaints, use of health and welfare services: a survey
Abstract
Purpose: There is a lack of knowledge about the lives of adults with short stature in Norway. We therefore performed a survey to described participation in paid employment, bodily complaints, the use of health services and the welfare system. Design: Survey. Methods and material: A questionnaire was developed and sent to 72 persons (16 years and older) who were of short stature and registered in a data based medical journal system at the TRS resource centre for rare disorders. Results: Forty-four persons (61 percent) answered the questionnaire, 32 were women and mean age was 36 years (SD 13). Mean body height was 134 cm (SD 13). Most of them had bodily complaints, 22 had complaints from five or more body areas. During the last year, 26 had received physical therapy. All but one received some financial aid and 33 used technical aids. Nineteen were employed and 10 had full disability pensions. People with high level of education, the tallest, the youngest and those with few physical complaints had highest participation in paid employment. Conclusion: One third of adults with short stature in Norway who were registered at TRS Resource Centre had ended paid employment, while most of those with high education were employed. One half had complaints from five or more body areas and all received treatment and services from professionals in the health-, social- and welfare system. More knowledge about short stature may contribute to better services for people of short stature.
