PLoS ONE (Jan 2018)

Adequacy of care management of patients with polyhandicap in the French health system: A study of 782 patients.

  • Marie-Christine Rousseau,
  • Thierry Billette de Villemeur,
  • Sherezad Khaldi-Cherif,
  • Catherine Brisse,
  • Agnès Felce,
  • Karine Baumstarck,
  • Pascal Auquier,
  • French Polyhandicap Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199986
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 7
p. e0199986

Abstract

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BACKGROUND:The aims of this study were 1) to describe the health profiles and care management of polyhandicapped patients according to 2 modalities, specialized rehabilitation centers (SRC) and residential facilities (RF), and 2) to estimate the adequacy of care management of these patients. METHODS:This was an 18-month cross-sectional study including patients with a combination of severe motor deficiency and profound intellectual impairment. The patients were from 4 SRC and 9 RF. The following data were collected: sociodemographics, health status, care management, and adequacy of care management. RESULTS:A total of 782 patients were included: 410 (52%) were cared for in SRC and 372 (48%) in RF. Global objective adequacy (health severity and age category) was higher for patients cared for in SRC compared with patients cared for in RF (57 vs. 44%, p< = 10-3). Global subjective adequacy (self-perception of the referring physician and request of change in structure) was higher for patients cared for in SRC in comparison with patients cared for in RF (98 vs. 92%, p< = 10-3). CONCLUSIONS:This study provides key elements of adequacy of care management modalities for polyhandicapped patients in France. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02400528.