Satisfaction assessment of people with disabilities by comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation assistance

BACKGROUND: The implementation of a set of rehabilitation measures, in accordance with the Individual Rehabilitation and Habilitation Program (IRHP), is a key task for outpatient medical and social organizations. Satisfaction of disabled people with the rehabilitation care they receive depends on the alignment between expected and received services. The study addresses the need to assess the adequacy of the comprehensive rehabilitation efforts and satisfaction among people with disabilities resulting from the progression of socially significant diseases. AIM: To assess the satisfaction of disabled people with socially significant diseases regarding rehabilitation measures carried out in outpatient settings in accordance with the IPHP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September to December 2023, a sociological survey was conducted at the city polyclinics of the Kalininsky administrative district of St. Petersburg (polyclinics 86, 54, 96, 112, and 118). The survey included 384 respondents, comprising disabled people and legal representatives of disabled children with socially significant diseases. RESULTS: The study revealed low satisfaction levels, with only 58.1% of respondents fully satisfied with the rehabilitation measures, and 41.1% reporting they did not receive complete rehabilitation assistance for disabled people with socially significant diseases. An association was established between the subjective assessment of the rehabilitation effectiveness by disabled people and their health self-assessment according on the EQ-VAS scale (p=0.001). Among respondents with low health self-assessment according to the EQ-VAS scale, social and environmental adaptation measures were in highest demand (p=0.04). Coverage of health resort treatment was limited to 21%, with the primary barrier being difficulties with travel to the treatment site in 65.3% of cases, and the treatment had no significant impact on health self-assessment. CONCLUSION: Low coverage of comprehensive medical and social rehabilitation care at the outpatient level negatively affects the satisfaction and subjective health assessment of disabled people in dynamics. Regular monitoring of the needs of disabled people and assessing satisfaction with rehabilitation care provided both in medical institutions and in social service organizations are essential for enhancing interdepartmental collaboration and making effective organizational decisions.