The Norwegian Polio Study 1994 part II: early experiences of polio and later psychosocial well-being

Abstract

Study design: The Norwegian Polio Study 1994 was a nation-wide survey of the medical and psychosocial situation of polio survivors. Method: A questionnaire, consisting of 133 questions with sub-questions, was sent to a total of 2392 polio victims, most of them registered in`The National Society of Polio Victims' in Norway. 1449 (61%) answered. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between early polio experiences, such as duration of hospitalization and perceived support, and later psychosocial well-being. Results: Three hundred and ninety-one persons (27%) reported they had been psychologically harmed by the treatment received at the time they contracted polio (Harmed group), while 1053 persons (73%) did not (Non-Harmed group). Persons in the Harmed group were signi®cantly younger at polio onset, were hospitalized for a longer period and had less parental visit and support. Today they use more medication, report more pain, general fatigue, sleep disturbance and concentration problems, more psychosocial distress, less satisfaction with life and less social support than persons in the Non-Harmed group.Conclusions: The results demonstrate that a subgroup of polio survivors has been vulnerable from childhood, with possible consequences for their physical, psychological and social wellbeing later in life. Recommendations for long-life treatment of children with similar diseases should include follow-up not only of their physical disabilities, but also on psychological and psychosocial needs.

Former poliomyelitis as a health and socioeconomic factor. A paired sibling study

“…Psychiatric disorders including depression were infrequent in both groups, and did not occur with increased frequency among polio patients as has been reported previously [11,17]. This further supports the assumptions that the polio-related symptoms like muscle weakness, pain, and fatigue are the reasons for the patients' perception of reduced general health.…”

“…Since the mid 1980s there has been an increasing interest in former polio patients and the late effects of polio. This has lead to an extensive examination of new neuromuscular symptoms occurring many years after the acute illness (the post polio syndrome) [4,5,8,9,16], but also to studies concerning psychosocial effects of the illness and the resulting disability [6,7,17,18,22]. During and after the epidemics in the 1940s and 1950s in Norway, systematic treatment and rehabilitation schemes were organized to help the polio patients take part in society at an equal level with the non-handicapped.…”

Polio survivors - well educated and hard working

“…Most polio patients went through intensive training and rehabilitation after the acute phase of illness,with the well-defined purpose of taking them back to society at the same degree as healthy individuals [4,18].Simultaneously the Norwegian welfare system expanded,including development and better funding of education and thus possibilities for everyone to choose from a wide variety of professions [8]. Disability pensions gave social security and became an alternative income support.…”

Never second best?

“…The participants in this study do not express emotional distress and dissatisfaction, like the Harmed-group in the study by Schanke et al (1999). This may be due to the difference in time between the studies, i.e.…”