Utilization and Satisfaction of Rehabilitation Service in Patients with Brain Disorders in Korea

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utilization of medical rehabilitation services and the degree of satisfaction about rehabilitation services in patients with brain disorders. METHOD: A total of 1903 patients agreed to participate in this study and were interviewed from September 2005 to May 2006. The subjects completed the questionnaires about the utilization of medical rehabilitation services and the degree of satisfaction with those treatments. Pearson's chi-square test, Student t-test and frequency analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A 78.0 percent of patients received inpatient rehabilitation treatment. A 66.9 percent of all patients were served of only physical therapy and 31.6 percent received both physical and occupational therapy. The main reason why patients could not have a chance to experience rehabilitation treatment was associated with environmental problems, such as the ignorance of the need about rehabilitation treatment, or the insufficient communication between doctors and patients. Most patients (54.6%) were satisfied with the rehabilitation treatment. However, as the number of admission was increased, patients tended to be less satisfied with the rehabilitation treatment. CONCLUSION: The inpatient rehabilitation treatment was limitedly served to patients with brain disorders mostly when the patients required rehabilitation services. It is necessary to provide more effective and various rehabilitation services to patients under the comprehensive guideline of the process of rehabilitation services.