title: Gender comparisons of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity in geriatric rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate possible gender differences regarding the effect of intervention in geriatric rehabilitation, expressed in terms of change in function-related dependence, pain and insecurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 110 women and 44 men undergoing geriatric rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Performance-based assessments with use of the General Motor Function assessment scale. Non-parametric statistics were mainly used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women showed higher degrees of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity on admission than the men. Both women and men displayed significant improvement in all 3 variables during the rehabilitation period. However, the positive changes regarding pain and insecurity were according to the analyses of systematic group changes, at a low degree among the men, probably because of the low levels on admission. Gender comparisons of proportions with positive intervention outcome indicated that a significantly larger proportion of the women showed a positive treatment effect after intervention, with a difference in recovery of 19% in dependence, 23% in pain and 33% in insecurity (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differences in disability, with higher degrees of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity among women on admission for geriatric rehabilitation, can be diminished during the rehabilitation period. These promising results may have relevance for the public health of the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Geriatrics, Uppsala University, PO Box 609, SE-751 25 Uppsala, Sweden. anna.cristina.aberg@pubcare.uu.se
authors.forename: Anna Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aberg
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012737:Sex Factors