Evaluation of the effectiveness of the medical rehabilitation program for farmers at a selected farmerrs' rehabilitation centre

Abstract

<b>Introduction.</b> KRUS (Farmer’s Social Security Fund) provides medical rehabilitation to all farmers entitled to it. <b>Aim.</b> The research concerning the effectiveness of the medical rehabilitation program for farmers was underdtaken following the assumption that there existed significant differences between the evaluation of patients’ health condition by physicians (based on the differences between the preliminary and final examinations) and patients’ own opinions, presumably underestimated, concerning their health. <b>Materials and methods.</b> This study was conducted between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2006 in the Farmers’ Rehabilitation Centre in Jedlec. 1100 farmers were randomly selected to be examined from among 8312 participants of the medical rehabilitation program. Spondylosis and slipped disc were the main conditions which necessitated rehabilitation, as well as lower limb injuries among post-traumatic conditions. Research tools included patients’ case records, especially locomotor system examination cards. Data obtained from patients’ medical histories and preliminary and final physical examinations as well as medical documentation were compared. The results were presented in a tabular form. A comparison of preliminary and final examinations provided grounds for evaluating medical rehabilitation results. <b>Results and discussion.</b> According to medical evaluations, improvement after the rehabilitation course was observed in 82.9% of the cases. These results significantly differed from positive assessments expressed by the farmers themselves. Only 23% reported improvement during their final examination. <b>Conclusions.</b> The evaluation of the effectiveness of the medical rehabilitation program for farmers is a very complex issue; nevertheless, its positive impact on patients’ health is clearly noticeable. We can observe a great impact of extra-health factors on the evaluation of rehabilitation effects reported by the farmers. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the medical rehabilitation program for farmers carried out by the Centre physician was much more positive than the subjective evaluation reported during their final examinations by the farmers themselves. The needs of the farmers who undergo rehabilitation in the Centre concerning health care promotion and education are extensive. The program of health care promotion should be directed to all farmers, not only those who participate in structured rehabilitation courses.