TY - JOUR
T1 - Growing up with a disability following paralytic poliomyelitis
T2 - experiences from persons with late effects of polio
AU - Sjödahl Hammarlund, Catharina
AU - Lexell, Jan
AU - Brogårdh, Christina
N1 - Funding Information:
The study was supported by the Gyllenstierna Krapperup Foundation, Sweden, Stiftelsen för bistånd åt rörelsehindrade i Skåne, Sweden, the Department of Health Sciences at Lund University, Lund, Sweden, and the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, Lund, Sweden. The authors wish to thank all participants for their cooperation and Mr. James Suckling for linguistic review of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Purpose: To describe the experiences of growing up after acute paralytic poliomyelitis and strategies used to adapt to the new situation. Methods: Seven women and seven men (mean age 70 years, min-max 61-78 years) with late effects of polio, who had contracted paralytic polio in their childhood. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by systematic text condensation. Results: Memories of contracting acute paralytic poliomyelitis involved being immobilized and sent away from home for surgical and physiotherapeutic treatment. Growing up in a social context that was often tough and unfriendly resulted in the development of strategies, such as optimistic thinking, trying to blend in, trusting one's ability to manage, and to handle the preconceptions and expectations of others. At the onset of late effects of polio, some of these strategies were still functioning, whereas overachieving, disregarding pain, and weariness were not. Conclusion: The challenges of growing up with a disability following paralytic polio led to the development of various psychological strategies for managing daily life. By understanding these experiences and strategies, knowledge may be gained in assisting rehabilitation professionals to better support persons with late effects of polio in adapting to the new situation. Implications for rehabilitation. At the onset of late effects of polio, strategies developed earlier in life, such as overachieving, disregarding pain, and weariness, may not function anymore. Understanding the experiences of growing up with poliomyelitis can support rehabilitation professionals to provide targeted interventions for people with late effects of polio and enable them to develop new adaptive strategies. Developing new strategies, such as accepting increased symptoms, and augmenting self-esteem and self-efficacy, may improve daily functioning among people with late effects of polio.
AB - Purpose: To describe the experiences of growing up after acute paralytic poliomyelitis and strategies used to adapt to the new situation. Methods: Seven women and seven men (mean age 70 years, min-max 61-78 years) with late effects of polio, who had contracted paralytic polio in their childhood. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by systematic text condensation. Results: Memories of contracting acute paralytic poliomyelitis involved being immobilized and sent away from home for surgical and physiotherapeutic treatment. Growing up in a social context that was often tough and unfriendly resulted in the development of strategies, such as optimistic thinking, trying to blend in, trusting one's ability to manage, and to handle the preconceptions and expectations of others. At the onset of late effects of polio, some of these strategies were still functioning, whereas overachieving, disregarding pain, and weariness were not. Conclusion: The challenges of growing up with a disability following paralytic polio led to the development of various psychological strategies for managing daily life. By understanding these experiences and strategies, knowledge may be gained in assisting rehabilitation professionals to better support persons with late effects of polio in adapting to the new situation. Implications for rehabilitation. At the onset of late effects of polio, strategies developed earlier in life, such as overachieving, disregarding pain, and weariness, may not function anymore. Understanding the experiences of growing up with poliomyelitis can support rehabilitation professionals to provide targeted interventions for people with late effects of polio and enable them to develop new adaptive strategies. Developing new strategies, such as accepting increased symptoms, and augmenting self-esteem and self-efficacy, may improve daily functioning among people with late effects of polio.
KW - Coping skills
KW - paralytic polio myelitis
KW - physical activity
KW - psychological adaptation
KW - qualitative methods
U2 - 10.1080/09638288.2019.1647296
DO - 10.1080/09638288.2019.1647296
M3 - Article
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 43
SP - 960
EP - 966
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 7
ER -
