Abstract
Medical rehabilitation aims to strengthen or sustain functions of persons with disabilities. The objective
of this research was to explore the current situations of medical rehabilitation services for persons
with disabilities available in public hospitals, including community, general and regional hospitals in
Thailand. The questionnaires were mailed to 215 hospitals in 20 provinces between January and March
2014. The data were derived from 155 hospitals (72 percent response). Descriptive statistics were used for
data analysis.The results showed that, at community level, physiatrists and rehabilitation nurses were employed
in only 4% of hospitals; 88% of hospitals hired physiotherapists and there was no audiologist, speech
pathologist and orthotic technician. There were physiotherapists working in all general and regional hospitals
whereas physiatrists and rehabilitation nurses were found in only 40% and 25% of general and
regional hospitals.
The assessment of disability and prescribing assistive devices were mainly for persons with physical
and mobility disability. The most common services were physiotherapy (100% in regional and general
hospitals, 91% in community hospitals) while speech and hearing rehabilitation services were provided at
the smallest proportion (2% in regional and general hospitals and no service in community hospitals). The
services of training programs for using assistive devices, user follow-up and device repair were still missing
in some hospitals. Visual and hearing aids were unavailable in community hospitals. Medical device
services for all type of disabilities were provided in regional and general hospitals but some items of
devices still were unavailable in some hospitals.
