What Determines the Possession of Assistive Devices Among Patients With Rheumatic Diseases? The Influence of the Country-Related Health Care System
By Veehof, Martine M.; Taal, Erik; Rasker, Johannes J.; Lohmann, Johannes; Van De Laar, Mart A.F.J.; Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 205-211Publication Date: February 2006
Study conducted to identify the determining factors of assistive technology (AT) use among people with arthritis. A total of 142 rehabilitation clients from rheumatology outpatient clinics in two regions in The Netherlands and Germany participated in the study. The participants each completed a questionnaire used to record data on AT possession, socio-demographics, clinical status, and health status. The majority of the participants – roughly 78 percent – reported possessing at least 1 or more assistive device. Functional status was found to be the primary determining factor, while more of the participants from The Netherlands reported having AT when compared with the participants from Germany. These results are discussed in terms of differences in prescription and reimbursement practices across the two countries.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
