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Activity of daily living performance amongst Danish asylum seekers : a cross-sectional study

Morville, Anne Le LU ; Erlandsson, Lena Karin LU ; Eklund, Mona LU orcid ; Danneskiold-Samsøe, Bente ; Christensen, Robin and Amris, Kirstine (2014) In Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture 24(1). p.49-64
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) ability impairment in newly arrived Danish asylum seekers. It was hypothesized that exposure to trauma and torture would negatively influence ADL performance and that measures of ADL ability would be lower in individuals exposed to torture as compared to the non-tortured.

SUBJECTS: Forty-three newly arrived asylum seekers aged 20-50 years, from Iran, Afghanistan and Syria, were consecutively included in the study.

METHOD: ADL ability was assessed with the observation-based test Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Interviews were based on questionnaires about torture exposure, WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, Major Depression... (More)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) ability impairment in newly arrived Danish asylum seekers. It was hypothesized that exposure to trauma and torture would negatively influence ADL performance and that measures of ADL ability would be lower in individuals exposed to torture as compared to the non-tortured.

SUBJECTS: Forty-three newly arrived asylum seekers aged 20-50 years, from Iran, Afghanistan and Syria, were consecutively included in the study.

METHOD: ADL ability was assessed with the observation-based test Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Interviews were based on questionnaires about torture exposure, WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, Major Depression Inventory and Pain Detect Questionnaire. All participants were interviewed and tested using a linguistic interpreter.

RESULTS: Thirty three (77%) participants reported exposure to torture. The tortured did not differ significantly from the nontortured on measures of ADL ability (two-sample t-tests: Motor, p= 0.36; Process, p= 0.82). ADL performance impairment was observed in the overall study sample. Twelve had motor and 15 process ability measures below age norms and 2 below both AMPS motor and process cut-offs for effortless and efficient ADL performance. There were statistically significant - weak to moderate - correlations between self-reported psychological distress, VAS average pain, pain distribution and the AMPS measures.

CONCLUSION: The study results supported significant ADL ability impairment in tortured as well as non-tortured newly arrived asylum seekers. Implementation of performance-based evaluation of ADL ability as part of the initial medical screening of this particular population should be considered.

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author
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture
volume
24
issue
1
pages
16 pages
publisher
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
external identifiers
  • pmid:25590464
  • scopus:84924978927
ISSN
1018-8185
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
49c19473-7b3e-4ca6-aaa7-a6aa515aabfb
date added to LUP
2016-12-09 11:03:44
date last changed
2024-03-07 18:11:08
@article{49c19473-7b3e-4ca6-aaa7-a6aa515aabfb,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) ability impairment in newly arrived Danish asylum seekers. It was hypothesized that exposure to trauma and torture would negatively influence ADL performance and that measures of ADL ability would be lower in individuals exposed to torture as compared to the non-tortured.</p><p>SUBJECTS: Forty-three newly arrived asylum seekers aged 20-50 years, from Iran, Afghanistan and Syria, were consecutively included in the study.</p><p>METHOD: ADL ability was assessed with the observation-based test Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Interviews were based on questionnaires about torture exposure, WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, Major Depression Inventory and Pain Detect Questionnaire. All participants were interviewed and tested using a linguistic interpreter.</p><p>RESULTS: Thirty three (77%) participants reported exposure to torture. The tortured did not differ significantly from the nontortured on measures of ADL ability (two-sample t-tests: Motor, p= 0.36; Process, p= 0.82). ADL performance impairment was observed in the overall study sample. Twelve had motor and 15 process ability measures below age norms and 2 below both AMPS motor and process cut-offs for effortless and efficient ADL performance. There were statistically significant - weak to moderate - correlations between self-reported psychological distress, VAS average pain, pain distribution and the AMPS measures.</p><p>CONCLUSION: The study results supported significant ADL ability impairment in tortured as well as non-tortured newly arrived asylum seekers. Implementation of performance-based evaluation of ADL ability as part of the initial medical screening of this particular population should be considered.</p>}},
  author       = {{Morville, Anne Le and Erlandsson, Lena Karin and Eklund, Mona and Danneskiold-Samsøe, Bente and Christensen, Robin and Amris, Kirstine}},
  issn         = {{1018-8185}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{49--64}},
  publisher    = {{International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims}},
  series       = {{Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture}},
  title        = {{Activity of daily living performance amongst Danish asylum seekers : a cross-sectional study}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}