| Summary: | 博士 === 慈濟大學 === 醫學科學研究所 === 104 === Background: In 2012, a new disability evaluation system in Taiwan was implemented because the original disability classification system did not adequately explain the concept of disability. The government in Taiwan decided to use the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) adult version for the assessment of functioning in the disability evaluation system. However, the WHODAS 2.0 was a new assessment, hence the effectiveness of the disability evaluation system was unclear. Therefore, the present study used several ways to evaluate the feasibility of WHODAS 2.0 adult version for the assessment of functioning in the Taiwan disability evaluation system.
Aim: The purposes of this study were: 1) to develop the WHODAS 2.0 36-item traditional Chinese version; 2) to estimate the social welfare costs based on changes in the severity level of disabilities to assist in government policies; 3) to determine the perception of professional testers with regard to the Taiwan disability evaluation system; and 4) to determine the feasibility of WHODAS 2.0 adult version for the assessment of functioning in the the Taiwan disability evaluation system.
Method: Questionnaires were used to examine the reliability and validity of the WHODAS 2.0 traditional Chinese version, and to determine the perception of professional testers with regard to the Taiwan disability evaluation system. Secondary data were used to estimate the social welfare costs, with regard to the Taiwan disability evaluation system.
Results: WHODAS 2.0 was a valid and reliable measurement scale for evaluating the functioning and disability status. For the estimation of social welfare costs, there are many different ways to estimate the cost depending on the model design. but the most important for the government to determine the best model to interpret the health status and the needs of people with disabilities. Although most tester were satisfied with the Taiwan disability evaluation system, but some process issues must be addressed.
Conclusion: The WHODAS 2.0 adult version is expected to be an effective assessment of functioning for the Taiwan disability evaluation system. For the estimation of social welfare costs, the best model should be choosed based on a fairness and justice. As a results, there are some issues need to revise in the disability evaluation system , but it could be expected that if the government could fix the problems according to the actual situation. Then, using WHODAS 2.0 as functioning assessment for Taiwanese adults in disabilities evaluation system is feasible.
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