Community Integration Study through Rehabilitation Medical Support for People with Disabilities

Community Integration Study through Rehabilitation Medical Support for People with Disabilities

Purpose: This study is to propose the establishment and direction of a public health-medical cooperation system for rehabilitation medical services for people with physical and brain disabilities in Gangneung, Korea. Research design, data and methodology: The study focused on 30 individuals with these disabilities registered. Data was collected from December 20, 2021, to December 31, 2021, through structured surveys administered by researchers visiting disability-related facilities, utilizing convenience and random sampling methods. Descriptive statistics and cross-analysis were applied for analysis. Results: Specifically, among respondents with physical disabilities, a total of 20 needs were identified, with 'Visiting health services' (25.0%) and 'Oral health services' (20.0%) ranking highest. The survey results regarding visit-based rehabilitation services for disability support showed a high demand, emphasizing the necessity of service provision tailored to the needs of recipients, focusing on disability prevention, health management, and motor function recovery, rather than solely medical or therapeutic concepts. Conclusions: Gangwon National University Hospital, as the regional referral hospital in Gangwon, should collaborate with Gangwon Province Rehabilitation Hospital to provide prompt acute rehabilitation services. Moreover, cooperation and collaboration with Gangneung Asan Hospital, the tertiary hospital in the region, are essential to ensure continued acute and recovery phase rehabilitation therapy for a certain period in the Gangneung area.