Fruin Carole, Pitt P I
Rheumatology Centre, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, Orpington Hospital, Kent, UK.
Musculoskeletal Care. 2008 Dec;6(4):211-9. doi: 10.1002/msc.133.
The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), used in arthritis provides an overall disability index and has been used previously to indicate those patients with arthritis who may be eligible for welfare benefits such as Attendance Allowance (AA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) (Langley et al., 2004, Memel et al., 2002, Powell et al., 2004). The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the HAQ in this local population as a tool for identifying patients who may be eligible for benefits, and to assist those identified in claiming benefits with the help of a Citizens Advice Bureau benefits advisor.
HAQ forms were sent to patients attending the Rheumatology Centre, all those patients with a HAQ score of <or=1.5, indicating moderate to severe disability were contacted initially by telephone by the CAB advisor. Those whom were considered eligible were invited to attend the Rheumatology Centre to determine their suitability to apply for benefit. Suitable patients were invited to complete a department of Work and Pensions claim pack either with the advisor in the Rheumatology Centre, with a CAB form completion volunteer within the patient's home or fill the forms in themselves.
Of the 86 patients contacted by the CAB advisor, 48 were already on benefits, 8 of these patients were advised to have their benefits reviewed. 38 were not in receipt of any benefits. 29 (63%) were awarded benefits.
The HAQ was found to be a useful tool in this local population for identifying patients with arthritis who may be entitled to AA or DLA. The CAB advisor was central to the identification and application process for eligible patients for AA and DLA, which in some cases led to the award of other entitlements.
用于关节炎的健康评估问卷（HAQ）可提供一个总体残疾指数，此前已被用于确定哪些患有关节炎的患者可能有资格获得诸如护理津贴（AA）或残疾生活津贴（DLA）等福利（兰利等人，2004年；梅梅尔等人，2002年；鲍威尔等人，2004年）。本研究的目的是评估HAQ在当地人群中作为识别可能有资格获得福利的患者的工具的有效性，并在公民咨询局福利顾问的帮助下，协助已识别出的患者申请福利。
向在风湿病中心就诊的患者发放HAQ表格，公民咨询局顾问首先通过电话联系所有HAQ评分小于或等于1.5（表明中度至重度残疾）的患者。那些被认为有资格的患者被邀请到风湿病中心，以确定他们申请福利的适宜性。合适的患者被邀请在风湿病中心与顾问一起、在患者家中与公民咨询局表格填写志愿者一起或自行填写工作和养老金部的索赔包。
在公民咨询局顾问联系的86名患者中，48名已经在领取福利，其中8名患者被建议对其福利进行审查。38名未领取任何福利。29名（63%）获得了福利。
发现HAQ是当地人群中识别可能有权获得AA或DLA的关节炎患者的有用工具。公民咨询局顾问在符合条件的患者申请AA和DLA的识别和申请过程中起着核心作用，在某些情况下还导致了其他权益的授予。
