J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.
2008 Feb;32(1):51-55.
The Educational and Vocational Status of Muscular Dystrophy Patients
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute of Muscular Disease, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. drtlc@yuhs.ac
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the current condition of education and vocation of patients with muscular dystrophy in Korea and to identify the factors determining their educational and vocational status. METHOD: This study included 129 patients with muscular dystrophy. Functional level of patients was evaluated by modified Barthel index (MBI). The current condition of education and vocation of patients was evaluated by self reports. The mean age of the patients was 23.5 years and 84.5% were men.
RESULTS
Education duration of patients was 11.8 years, similar to that of general Korean population. University graduation rate of patients was 29.8%, which is higher than average rate of general Korean population. The unemployment rate of patients was 77.4%, which is much higher than average rate of general Korean population. Education duration was correlated with the onset age of disease symptom and with the functional level at the end of education period. The vocational status was related with education duration and functional level. The factor which influenced most negatively on maintaining education and vocation was physical limitation.
CONCLUSION
For muscular dystrophy patients with physical limitation, equal opportunities and environment for exercising their ability should be secured with the specific policies and regulations, which consider their physical disabilities and interconnect educational field with vocational field.
