title: Postpolio survivors: needs for and access to social and health care services.
abstract: A needs assessment survey of 268 polio survivors residing in Maine explored the incidence of postpolio syndrome as well as perceived need for and access to social and health care services. A large proportion reported experiencing postpolio syndrome. Although knowledgeable of their condition, a majority perceived that they had no access to knowledgeable physicians or social and health care services and most were having difficulty coping. Findings indicate that polio survivors' self-appraisal of their illness status is related to their perceived need for and access to social and health care services. The need for community-based services, including medical, rehabilitative, educational, and social work services, is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Office of Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berkman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wellen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schuster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008281:Maine / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards