Functioning performance trajectory and its associated factors for people with disability-A 4-year national study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Disability Studies
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Functioning difficulties arise from interactions between health conditions and life barriers.
• Understanding long-term functioning is crucial for developing effective health policies and improving quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
• Existing research often lacks a longitudinal focus on changes in functioning for people with disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the functioning performance trajectory in people with disabilities.
• To identify factors associated with long-term functioning changes in this population.

Main Methods:

• A four-year longitudinal study utilizing data from Taiwan's National Disability Eligibility Determination System.
• WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) was used to rate activity and participation.
• Latent growth curve modeling analyzed personal, body function/structure, and environmental factors.

Main Results:

• 3,720 individuals with disabilities participated in the study.
• Female gender, moderate to severe disability levels, and employment were associated with faster annual increases in functioning.
• Increased social participation correlated with slower increases in functioning scores across all disability types (p < .05).

Conclusions:

• Identifying factors influencing long-term functioning provides valuable insights for policy development.
• Findings can guide interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities.