Changes in quality of life after rehabilitation for patients with progressive neurological disorders

The aim was to study whether patients with progressive neurological disorde rs experienced a changed quality of life at the end of a rehabilitation per iod and 3-4 months after their return home. Forty-one and 37 patients respe ctively filled in a self-administered questionnaire Quality of Life: Status and Change (QLsc). There was a significant difference between the two occa sions for responses regarding the items 'My bodily health has become';'My w ell-being has become' and 'I am able to maintain a good pace and lead an ac tive life'. The alternatives 'rather good' to 'much better' were chosen mor e often at the end of the rehabilitation period than after 3-4 months. Ther e were also differences between respondents who had been to the rehabilitat ion centre for the first time and those who had recurrent visits, regarding the items:'My bodily health has become','My well-being has become' and 'My whole life is'. The alternative neither/nor was rated fairly evenly on bot h response occasions. The study probably indicates that the recurrent rehab ilitation periods at the centre have an effect. When the respondents respon d to items with a global focus, they seem to indicate experiences of a high er QOL.