Virginija Kondratavičienė, Aistė Jancevičiūtė

Abstract

Rheumatic joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis are recognized as the second most common diseases in causing disability. Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 12 thousand of the population in Lithuania. Rheumatoid arthritis with increasing age of the population and the increasing number of patients with the diagnosis of the disease becomes an important and relevant social issue not only from the medical, financial but also from the social side. Because of rheumatoid arthritis joint damage, patients with advanced disability face many issues: financial, emotional, and psychological and of course social. Therefore it is appropriate to carry out research and to find out whether social services are useful to persons with rheumatoid arthritis and which of the social services provide the greatest benefits. Aim of the work – to analyze benefits of social services to persons with rheumatoid arthritis. Practical meaning of the research. The research data showed that social services are useful to persons with rheumatoid arthritis. Analysis of the research, conclusions and recommendations may be practically useful to social workers in providing social services to persons with rheumatoid arthritis. Research method – quantitative research. Non -probabilistic purposive sampling was executed among 31 persons with rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion of the research. The research data showed that social services are more used almost by every person with rheumatoid arthritis. From the general social services were mentioned technical and compensatory equipment, housing and environmental applications, special transportation services. From the special social home care services were mentioned food purchasing and food preparation, documentation management, doctor’s appointments at home, drug purchasing from pharmacies services. The benefit of all social services most of the respondents rated as average, because of their opinion that social services system is still not well developed to provide the maximum benefit.

doi:10.5200/sm-hs.2013.100

Keyword(s): rheumatoid arthritis, disability, social services, home care services
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2013.100
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