Did the educational campaign to support persons with cognitive dysfunction encourage them to participate in society in Northern Kyushu, Japan?

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To investigate social participation and the administration of the official certificate for cognitive dysfunction in Northern Kyushu, Japan following a government-conducted educational campaign to support persons with cognitive dysfunction.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

A questionnaire was mailed to members of the Brain Injury Association of Northern Kyushu living with traumatic brain injury; the results were compared with those of the first survey conducted in 2002.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

This study evaluated 159 individuals (response rate: 72.6%, 135 males and 24 females), whose mean age at time of injury was 28 years. Eighty-two per cent of the participants were living at home; 72% were independent in activities of daily living. Fifty-nine per cent and 33% had certificates of physical and mental disability, respectively, and 37% were engaged in employment or school attendance. The number of participants who had obtained certificates of physical or mental disability and the number of participants who returned to employment or school significantly increased in comparison to the first survey (χ2 test, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The model project and educational campaign facilitated social participation and increased the acquisition of the official certificate of cognitive dysfunction.