Ann Rehabil Med.  2018 Jun;42(3):465-472. 10.5535/arm.2018.42.3.465.

Needs for Medical and Rehabilitation Services in Adults With Cerebral Palsy in Korea

• Park MW
• Kim WS
• Bang MS
• Lim JY
• Shin HI
• Leigh JH
• Kim K
• Kwon BS
• Jang SN
• Jung SH

• KMID: 2417839
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2018.42.3.465

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate medical comorbidities and needs for medical and rehabilitation services of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea.
METHODS
This was a prospective cross-sectional study. One hundred fifty-four adults with CP were enrolled in the study between February 2014 and December 2014. Information was obtained from participants regarding functional status, demographic and socioeconomic data, medical problems, and requirements for and utilization of medical and rehabilitation services.
RESULTS
The participants included 93 males and 61 females with a mean age of 40.18±9.15 years. The medical check-up rate of adults with CP was lower than that of healthy adults and the total population with disabilities (53.2% vs. 58.6% vs. 70.4%). A quarter of the subjects failed to visit the hospital during the past year, and the main reason was the financial burden. Due to a cost burden and lack of knowledge, more than one-third of the subjects had unmet needs for rehabilitation services; the majority reported needs for rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy for pain management.
CONCLUSION
The medical check-up rate was lower in the adults with CP, even though their medical comorbidities were not less than those of healthy people. Several non-medical reasons hindered them from receiving proper medical and rehabilitation services. Such barriers should be managed effectively.

Keyword

Cerebral palsy; Rehabilitation; Medical; Adult; Comorbidity

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Cerebral Palsy*
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Korea*
Male
Pain Management
Prospective Studies
Rehabilitation*

Reference

1. Rosenbaum P, Paneth N, Leviton A, Goldstein M, Bax M, Damiano D, et al. A report: the definition and classification of cerebral palsy April 2006. Dev Med Child Neurol Suppl. 2007; 109:8–14.

2. Kirby RS, Wingate MS, Van Naarden Braun K, Doernberg NS, Arneson CL, Benedict RE, et al. Prevalence and functioning of children with cerebral palsy in four areas of the United States in 2006: a report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Res Dev Disabil. 2011; 32:462–9.

3. Park MS, Kim SJ, Chung CY, Kwon DG, Choi IH, Lee KM. Prevalence and lifetime healthcare cost of cerebral palsy in South Korea. Health Policy. 2011; 100:234–8.

4. Hemming K, Hutton JL, Pharoah PO. Long-term survival for a cohort of adults with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006; 48:90–5.

5. Murphy KP, Molnar GE, Lankasky K. Medical and functional status of adults with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1995; 37:1075–84.

6. Bottos M, Feliciangeli A, Sciuto L, Gericke C, Vianello A. Functional status of adults with cerebral palsy and implications for treatment of children. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2001; 43:516–28.

7. Bax MC, Smyth DP, Thomas AP. Health care of physically handicapped young adults. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1988; 296:1153–5.

8. Thomas A, Bax M, Coombers K, Goldson E, Smyth D, Whitmore K. The health and social needs of young adults with physical disabilities. London: Mac Keith Press;1989. p. 60–9.

9. Ministry of Health and Welfare; Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Korea Health Statistics 2014: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-2). Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2015.

10. Kim SH, Byun YC, Son CG, Lee YH, Lee MK, Lee SH, et al. 2011 National survey on persons with disabilities. Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2011.

11. Andersson C, Mattsson E. Adults with cerebral palsy: a survey describing problems, needs, and resources, with special emphasis on locomotion. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2001; 43:76–82.

12. Jahnsen R, Aamodt G, Rosenbaum P. Gross Motor Function Classification System used in adults with cerebral palsy: agreement of self-reported versus professional rating. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006; 48:734–8.

13. Sandstrom K, Alinder J, Oberg B. Descriptions of functioning and health and relations to a gross motor classification in adults with cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil. 2004; 26:1023–31.