ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A large group of patients of Ladek Zdrój spa consists of people with disabilities confirmed by objective tests performed under the pension prevention program of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). The purpose of disability prevention is to improve the health conditions to the extent required to continue work. The aim of the study was to identify the differences in the assessment of the treatment and its results between patients referred by the Social Insurance Institution and by the National Health Fund (NFZ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 780 people referred to the spa treatment because of different locomotor dysfunctions participated in a questionnaire-based voluntary anonymous survey. The control group consisted of 215 persons with similar illnesses referred by the National Health Fund. The questionnaire included nine specific questions concerning important socio-medical issues of spa rehabilitation. RESULTS: Following the mathematical analysis, the survey data, presented in the percentage form in 10 tables, allowed us to identify differences in the evaluation of treatment of patients referred by ZUS and NFZ. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory results of rehabilitation were reported more often by patients referred by NFZ than by those treated under the ZUS disability prevention program. The latter group of patients frequently reported anger, fear or despair associated with rehabilitation declaring at the same time active participation in the treatment process. This observation provides evidence that the pension prevention based on the holistic model, preferred by the Social Insurance Institution, is more useful.
