Disability and rehabilitation
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Complications of surgical incision include pathological scars with functional, cosmetic or psychological consequences. Postsurgical scar assessment is fundamental for a complete functional evaluation and as an outcome measure. Scar assessment scales are here reviewed and discussed from a clinical and psychometric point of view, with a clear definition of different scar parameters. ⋯ To date, VSS is the most widely used rating scale for scars but POSAS appears the most comprehensive, taking into account the important aspect of patient's perspective. The MSS has been never used for research, while SBSES has only been very recently proposed.
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To alert health professionals on presence and extent of phantom pain and sensation following bilateral upper limb amputation. ⋯ At this time there is no healing for phantom pain; medical and surgical modalities only bring temporary relief, and less than 1% of the respondents achieve permanent relief through different treatment methods.
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World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule II: contribution to the Italian validation.
The World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II) is an instrument developed by the World Health Organisation in order to assess behavioural limitations and restrictions to participation experienced by an individual, independently from a medical diagnosis. The conceptual frame of reference of this instrument is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: ICF. Specifically, the instrument is designed to evaluate the functioning of the individual in six activity domains: Understanding and communicating, Getting around, Self-care, Getting along with people, Life activities, Participation in society. ⋯ The WHODAS II is a useful instrument for measuring disability and functioning in normal and disabled people. It shows high reliability and a stable factor structure; although an additional psychometric evaluation of a representative sample of Italian disabled should be carried out in order to reach standard scores for each macro-category of disability.
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To determine whether service delivery system factors, including having a quality medical home, access to therapeutic services, or enrolment in early intervention/special education services, are associated with meeting children's needs for assistive technology (AT). ⋯ Promoting quality care within a complex service delivery system is critical to meeting the AT needs of children and their families. Changes in the structure and processes of care, including facilitating access to a quality medical home and needed therapy services would likely increase access to needed AT.
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In this paper we aim to develop the understanding of what constitutes a 'good' or 'poor' experience in relation to the transition from hospital to home following a stroke. ⋯ The discharge experience could be improved by healthcare professionals understanding and exploring patients' individual models of recovery. This would allow professionals to: (a) Access patients concerns, (b) develop programmes addressing these, (c) correct misinterpretations, (d) keep people fully informed, and (e) share and validate the experience, to reduce their sense of isolation.