Measuring Disability and Its Predicting Factors in a Large Database in Taiwan Using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0

Wen-Chou Chi, Kwang-Hwa Chang, Reuben Escorpizo, Chia-Feng Yen, Hua-Fang Liao, Feng-Hang Chang, Hung-Yi Chiou, Sue-Wen Teng, Wen-Ta Chiu and Tsan-Hon Liou
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Wen-Chou Chi: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 235, Taiwan
Kwang-Hwa Chang: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
Reuben Escorpizo: Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Chia-Feng Yen: Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
Hua-Fang Liao: Chinese Association of Early Intervention Profession for Children with Developmental Delays, Hualien City 970, Taiwan
Feng-Hang Chang: Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Hung-Yi Chiou: School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
Sue-Wen Teng: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei 115, Taiwan
Wen-Ta Chiu: Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Tsan-Hon Liou: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 235, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The definition of disability had been unclear until the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health was promulgated in 2001 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Disability is a critical but relatively neglected public-health concern. We conducted this study to measure disabilities by using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) and identify the factors that contribute to disabilities. We obtained and analyzed the data on people who applied to Taiwan’s disability registration system between September 2012 and August 2013. A total of 158,174 cases were selected for this study. Among the people included in this study, 53% were male, and the females were on average 3 years older than the males. More males than females were of a low socioeconomic status, but the rate of employment was higher among the males than among the females. Age, sex, place of residence, and types and severity of impairment were all determined to be factors that independently contributed to disability. This study has demonstrated that disability can be measured and compared using WHODAS 2.0. Increasing the public-health attention devoted to disability and identifying the factors associated with disability can promote independence and social participation in people with disabilities.

Keywords: disability; ICF; impairment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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