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Disability in multiple sclerosis and the provision of social and medical services: Findings in Wellington, New Zealand
Author(s) -
Johnson Ralph H.,
Lambie David G.,
Peace Kathryn,
Thompson Gwenda
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1984.tb02561.x
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , scale (ratio) , multiple sclerosis , health professionals , medicine , psychology , family medicine , gerontology , environmental health , geography , psychiatry , health care , political science , cartography , law , population
A study of the incapacity and socioeconomic scales in 120 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) living in Wellington, New Zealand, is described. The questionnaire has been completed by different health professionals. There was good correlation between the observations of different professionals on incapacity analysis and this may be improved by reducing the questions to six. The findings on the socioeconomic scale, however, cannot be predicted accurately from the incapacity scale. The socioeconomic survey revealed major improvement in patient support in New Zealand during the last decade. We consider that our New Zealand findings indicate the value of field officers concerned with co‐ordination of services and provision of information for patients with MS. Future research should be directed towards assessment of support systems.