[Family and economic situations and social needs of patients with multiple sclerosis among the population of Lódź].
The reported analysis covered patients aged 46 or less living in a large industrial city, not inmates of homes for the disabled, who had a history of at least 5 years of multiple sclerosis and who had been registered 5-6 years earlier during 1 year (from Oct 1 1973 to Sept 30 1974) in neurological outpatient clinics or neurological or neurosurgical inpatient institutions. About 1/5 of the patients required full nursing care or considerable nursing in the basic everyday activities, and another 2/5 patients regarded themselves as at least slightly dependent on the help of other persons in several basic activities. An overwhelming majority of patients were living with their families and received help only from their family members. At least 30% of these patients required help and interventions of civic workers in view of economic and living difficulties. A particularly troublesome shortcoming (and one which could be helped most easily) was lack of telephones in about 4/5 of cases. Most patients (83%) received disability pensions, and half of them (52%) had received it for at least 2 years. Among women there were more patients receiving this pension than among men, and the proportion of women taking this pension since 8 years or longer was also higher (F-54%, M-45%). These results confirm the current observation that the social needs of patients with multiple sclerosis are far from being adequately met, and they may serve as a basis for elaboration of programme of comprehensive care of this group of patients.
D000328:Adult; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000191:economics*; D011044:Poland; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare
Sytuacja rodzinna i materialna oraz potrzeby socjalne chorych na stwardnienie rozsiane w populacji Lodzi.