2009 Volume 75 Issue 2 Pages 59-65
The aim of this study was to clarify the use of health, medical and welfare services by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its related factors in Japan, seven years after implementation of Japan public nursing-care insurance system.
A cross-sectional survey using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was conducted from February to April 2007, and targeted 3500 of the total 5513 members from 14 of the 47 branches of the Japan Parkinson’s Disease Association (JPDA). Data were analyzed using χ2 test and t-test.
Response rate of the survey was 52.0% (1813/3485). Participants who required higher levels of care reported the need for a greater degree of service usage as well as programs designed to minimize care needs. However, among those undergoing ambulatory rehabilitation, the proportion of participants who required low levels of care was high. Patients with few cohabitants use the various services quite heavily, even if they require low levels of care. Usage of services increased further in patients who required high levels of care and who had few cohabitants. Among those undergoing ambulatory rehabilitation, there was a trend toward high usage of services when cohabitant number was high.
This study clarified the use of health, medical and welfare services and related issues among patients with PD in Japan, seven years after implementation of Japan public nursing-care insurance system.
