Relationship between the components of disability definition and the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures as a process.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The number of disabled persons is most often only estimated. The disabled require multidirectional, effective support in almost every field of functioning. There is no arbitrarily accepted definition of disability, and those currently available outline the ranges of support for which rehabilitation measures are necessary. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the review is to present the problem areas that contribute to the definition of disability and their interdependence and effectiveness in relation to rehabilitation interventions, as well as identification of the most frequent medical and social problems interdependent on the quality and feasibility of rehabilitation interventions. REVIEW METHODS: Scientific literature in Polish and English for 1993-2023 and legal acts concerning the definition of disability, definition of rehabilitation and the problem of employment were reviewed. The following key words were used to search the NIZP-PZH, MZ, JAHEE and ISAP databases: disabled persons, definitions of disability, rehabilitation as a process, synchronization of thematic groups of disability definitions with the rehabilitation process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: Disability is a public health problem. The actual determination of the extent, medical and social needs of people with disabilities involves methods and measures for classifying people as disabled. The effects of treatment and rehabilitation are assessed by the level of functioning of the disabled in society. SUMMARY: The multiplicity of characteristics included in the definitions of disability account for all problems in health and social terms. In view of the social, environmental and cultural changes, the scope of needs of people with disabilities is also changing, which can be seen in newly-developed definitions, including rehabilitation.

Importance of most frequent needs of the disabled in shaping areas of support in public health. Part. III. Scopes of locomotor capabilities of the disabled from the aspect of demographic and social conditioning and problems hindering daily functioning.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Disability has an individualized character, both in terms of causes and effects, including limitation of locomotor skills. This is the problem to a great extent determining the level of daily functioning and the quality of life. The aim of the study was assessment of locomotor capabilities according to the demographic, social and health characteristics, and the frequency of problems of daily life according to the scope of locomotor capabilities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 676 disabled aged 19-98; mean age 64. The survey was carried out using a standardized Disability Questionnaire. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in categories of locomotor capabilities were observed according to age, education, material standard, housing conditions, legal disability status, and degrees of disability. Ten problems varying in intensity occurred according to the scope of independent moving around: material difficulties, difficulties in settling office matters, loneliness (P<0.0001), too infrequent contacts with the family, negative attitude of surroundings towards disability, material dependence on others, lack of care by relatives and friends, difficult access to environmental nurse, difficult access to services from social worker, necessity of caring for a disabled person. CONCLUSIONS: Locomotor capabilities of the disabled decrease over 64. Low level of education, material standard and poor housing conditions are associated with decreased capabilities for independent moving around without limitations. The types and number of problems with which the disabled struggle depends on the scope of their capabilities for independent moving around. In every dimension of functioning disability belongs to the scope of issues of public health.

Research priorities in the domain of disability - correlation between health and social characteristics. A Polish example.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: In each society there functions a group of the disabled who need assistance. The number and character of dysfunctional consequences determine the types of support, characteristics of health, medical and social problems, where a part of them are interdependent. The interdependence of these needs determine the consistency of rehabilitation actions, which result in the improvement of quality of life of disabled persons in their living environment, especially among rural inhabitants. REVIEW METHODS: The scientific medical, and sociological literature, as well as binding legal Acts from 1978-2021 were reviewed. Materials from Polish and English databases were analysed. Key words related to disability, its definition, models of disability, disability discrimination, inequalities in medical and social care, health and social needs, maps of needs, satisfaction with medical and social care, and quality of life were used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: Despite the fact that disability is a medical-social phenomenon, many reports concern only the treatment of the consequences of diseases, injuries, genetic/congenital or environmental defects. Disability is frequently identified with disease, which is inappropriate. Many researchers dealing with disability focus - quite rightly - on studies concerning social consequences, because they decide about the level of functioning of these persons in society and level of participation. SUMMARY: Disability is not only a medical and social problem. Treatment does not end the essence of disability. Only interdisciplinary studies can change the life of these persons regarding great possibilities for their participation.

Importance of most frequent needs of the disabled in shaping areas of support in public health. Part. II. Disability as a consequence of dysfunction in the state of health disrupting daily functioning based on selected health and socio-demographic characteristics - interdisciplinary problems in the domain of public health.

INTRODUCTION: The disabled are a group with heterogeneous structure of causes and needs. Assessment of these causes and needs requires prospective studies in order to use the results within public health actions, indispensable for pursuing the challenges of sustained development. The aim of the study was determination of the problems and needs of the disabled in various areas of their functioning, according to such characteristics as: gender, age, causes of disability, place of residence, level of education, formal status of disability, and socio-economic standard. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examined population were 676 disabled aged from 19-98, including 56.4% of females, and 43,6% of males; rural inhabitants constituted 38.0%. The study was conducted by the method of purposive sampling, using the following research tools: the Disability Questionnaire, and the Scientific-Research Protocol. Statistical analyses were performed by means of the statistical package IBM SPSS Statistics v. 27; the p values p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The most frequently occurring problems were material difficulties, lack of rehabilitation in the place of residence, hindered access to a physician, difficulties with settling official matters, loneliness, too infrequent contacts with the family, negative attitudes of the local community towards disability, and family disagreements. Some of these problems were significantly more frequent among rural inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the problems hindering daily life of the disabled fell within social rather than medical categories. Age, level of education, degree of disability, legal status, and material standard were most frequent determinants of the occurrence of health and social problems according to the place of residence.

Importance of most frequent needs of the disabled in shaping areas of support in public health. Part 1. Analysis of selected demographic and social characteristics of the disabled with consideration of the causes of body dysfunction, legal disability status, and selected characteristics of the state of health.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The disabled are a group with a heterogeneous structure of causes and needs. The occurring physical, health, and social barriers constitute areas of public health. Assessment of these barriers requires systematic studies in order to use results supporting the tasks of public health, indispensable for pursuing the challenges of sustainable development. The aim of the study was to discuss the selected demographic, social, living and housing, as well as economic characteristics of the disabled rural and urban inhabitants, which are important for shaping the tasks of public health. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 676 disabled aged 19 - 98 years, including 56.4% of females and 43.6% of males, 38.0% of whom lived in rural areas. The disabled were qualified into a study group by the method of targeted sampling. The research instruments were an author-constructed Disability Questionnaire, and the Research Protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using the software IBM SPSS Statistics v. 27. The p values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The level of risk of the phenomenon of disability was similar among both males and females. Higher risk was observed among widows and widowers, females with a low level of education, the disabled in older age groups, as well as those living in rural areas, maintaining themselves on non-earned sources of income, and running a single person household. The main causes of disability were diseases. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The majority of the population in the study were disabled with a legal grade of disability. 2. The analyzed characteristics fell within two groups: demographic and social, and health characteristics with difficult to separate health and social problems. 3. The most important problems in the area of public health were specified. 4. It is necessary to conduct studies considering demographic and social variables in order to level-up health inequalities between the disabled and those able-bodied. Effective solving of barriers and risks embedded in the social, family, and occupational situation prevents secondary disability, and also provides an opportunity for sustainable development in this population group.

Anti-vaccine movements - a form of social activity for health care, ignorance or diversion aimed at destabilizing the health situation? Part 1. Epidemiological safety. Vaccinations - pros and cons.

INTRODUCTION: Vaccinations are a way accepted by science of preventing infectious diseases. Because of their epidemiological significance, vaccinations are considered compulsory in many countries and their evasion is penalized. Anti-vaccine movements may pose a threat to the epidemiological situation in many countries. The study presents the arguments formulated by opponents of vaccination and provides counter-arguments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on the analysis of data stored in scientific databases, information obtained from Google, Bing and Yahoo on the Internet, as well as newspapers, magazines and opinion-forming websites. RESULTS: The slogans propagated by anti-vaccination movements are usually based on easily proven erroneous theories and lies, although there are also arguments expressing belief in the conspiracy of governments, politicians and vaccine manufacturers, or incompetence of scientists and practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: In recent years in Poland, the activity of movements against vaccination has increased significantly, and their propaganda, through its negative impact on social attitudes, threatens to destabilize the epidemiological situation. Analysis of arguments used by the opponents of vaccination suggests a lack of reliable knowledge, religious overtones (addressed to people with fundamentalist personalities), or the ill-will attitudes of anti-vaccine individuals/groups used for their own purposes. Familiarization with the arguments of anti-vaccine propaganda is necessary in order to implement effective methods of fighting such attitudes and beliefs.

Anti-vaccine movements - health care, ignorance or a diversion aimed at destabilizing the health situation? Part 2. Contemporary conditions for the functioning and development of anti-vaccination movements.

INTRODUCTION: Vaccinations are a way accepted by science of the struggle against infectious diseases. Because of their epidemiological significance, vaccinations are considered compulsory in many countries and their evasion is penalized. The WHO experts list anti-vaccine attitudes and movements among the top 10 threats to human health. Most people's refusals are mainly due to fears of anti-vaccine propaganda. Understanding this phenomenon will be the basis for improving the epidemiological situation in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on the analysis of data stored in scientific databases, as well as information obtained from Google, Bing and Yahoo and newspapers, magazines and opinion-forming websites. RESULTS: The anti-vaccine movements occur due different motivations, such as ignorance, fear and religious beliefs. Sometimes they can be supported by foreign services aimed at destabilization in selected areas of the globe. CONCLUSIONS: Increased activity and effective propaganda carried out by anti-vaccination movements is possible, among others, thanks to the development of the so-called 2nd generation of the Internet (Web2), enabling the free and difficult to control flow of information. Increasing data indicate that the activity of anti-vaccine movements may be a form of organized action (diversion in cyberspace) aimed at social, epidemiological, and economic destabilization of selected countries and regions. Among the various forms of combating anti-vaccination movements currently used are awareness-raising activities and restrictions on freedom on the Internet by monitoring information flow, blocking materials containing selected phrases or keywords associated with anti-vaccine propaganda, and sanctions imposed on people avoiding vaccination.