title: Perception of disability in a public health perspective: a model based on fuzzy logic.
abstract: Measures of functional levels, commonly used to assess the safety and quality of life of individuals and populations, have not yet been derived from a fuzzy framework. The aim of this study is to estimate the degree of disability associated with varying functional levels, through a model based on fuzzy sets theory. A fuzzy linguistic model was developed to measure varying levels of functional disability, in accordance with the definitions of an individual's social and physical activities and mobility. One year of an adult's life whose mobility, social and physical activities were somewhat limited, was judged to be equivalent to 0.575 years free of functional disability. Results obtained from the fuzzy model approach those obtained with the quality of well-being scale (QWB), used as a conceptual framework. Such findings are encouraging, since the QWB is considered a consistent and valid approach for disability assessment and quality-of-life evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health Studies/NESC/UFRJ, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio José Leal
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Massad
authors.forename: Neli R S
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Abelardo de Q-C
authors.initials: Ade Q
authors.lastname: Araújo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012449:Safety