By Joan L. Headley, Executive Director, Post-Polio Health International

Post-Polio Health International created a survey asking polio survivors about their post-polio medical care. The survey, Post-Polio Medical Care: Post-Polio Specialists and Primary Care Physicians, was posted online and a version was also published in Post-Polio Health (Volume 30, Number 2). Data was gathered from 632 people.

Satisfaction Factors

When asked to rate their satisfaction with the care received by the designated post-polio specialist on a scale of 1-4, the average was 3.32, with 54% rating their satisfaction as excellent. When asked what accounted for a good or excellent rating, the top chosen responses were:

• Good communicator (65%)
• Years of experience (63%)
• Not in a hurry (63%)
• Straightforward (63%)
• Thorough (looks for causes/symptoms) (55%)

When asked to rate their satisfaction with their care received by their primary care physician on a scale of 1-4, the average rating was 2.05, with only 9% rating it as excellent. When asked what accounted for a good or excellent rating for their primary care physician, the top chosen responses were:

• Good communicator (75%)
• Not in a hurry (67%)
• Refers when needed (66%)
• Thorough (looks for causes/symptoms) (58%)
• Problem solver; good analytical skills (51%)

Download the full report from the Polio Place website.