Questionnaire

This questionnaire was originally compiled to gather statistics and it is revealing many interesting trends and information that is helpful to our Post  Polio Society. We plan to post some of these facts and figures on this site as we work through the questionnaires. Thank you to the many who have  responded and we have been overwhelmed with your willingness to share the details of your polio situation with us.


Another aspect that has resulted from distributing this questionnaire is that it is your own record of your polio history. Some people have duplicated the forms, and given them to their doctors and therapists to include in their files. In this way the medical professionals can have your unique polio history on hand when you visit them. Extra copies can be made as needed by downloading and printing them off.

 

You may also want to keep a copy for yourself and note any changes over the years. 


Download this Questionnaire in PDF form here  

 

So keep an eye on this page for further up-dates on the questionnaire.

 

At the 2010 Conference Susan and Anne gave a report on the questionnaire survey, and the results were distributed. This Report is now in booklet form available on request, or download in PDF form here

Questionnaire Bytes March 2011

  • 34% have shortness of breath during activity such as bed making
  • 16% have shortness of breath during talking
  • 14% have difficulty breathing through their nose
  • 24% experience difficulty with swallowing
  • 9% wake short of breath
  • 25% wake with a start for no reason
  • 57% have restless sleep
  • 45% suffer from restless legs at night
  • 24% have some form of permanent paralysis
  • 53% have noticed increasing muscle weakness over the past few months
  • 62% have notice increasing muscle weakness over the past 5 -10 years
  • 32% experience muscle twitching
  • 43% get cramps. Dr de Graff mentioned at a recent conference that magnesium, or preferably magnesium and zinc tablets, available from the supermarket, can considerably reduce incidences of cramp.

Questionnaire Bytes November 2010

 

Some more information from the questionnaire:

  • 77% were initially hospitalized
  • 7% required the use of an iron lung
  • 39% had Kenny hot pack treatments
  • 64% had physiotherapy
  • 45% had hydrotherapy
  • 40% had outpatient treatment for years
  • 16% had other family members who contacted polio
  • 16% had no treatment

Most respondents have had polio related surgery


Questionnaire Bytes July 2010

The next Bytes from the Questionnaires look like this:-

  • 45% of respondents can now be contacted by email
  • 89% of replies came from New Zealand Pakehas. 2% of respondents are Maori
  • Respondents contracted polio in New Zealand, UK, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Ukraine, USA, Papua New Guinea, Egypt, the Pacific, Ceylon, Chile. South Africa, Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia, Kenya, Germany,
  • and at sea en route to NZ.

Age when polio was contracted

  • 58% of people got polio between birth and 10 years
  • 22% of people got polio between 11 and 20 years
  • 11% of people were aged between 21 and 30 when they got polio
  • 9% of people were over 31 when they got polio
  • The youngest got polio at birth and
  • the oldest respondent got polio at 53
  • 77%% were hospitalised when they first had polio, and 44% were too sick to remember their first weeks with polio
  • 7% needed an iron lung
  • 39% had Kenny treatment
  • 64% had regular physio
  • 16% had other members of their family who also polio
  • Peak years for contracting polio were 1948, 1952, and 1956
  • 16% had no treatment for polio
  • The average age of respondents is 71 years and most have had polio related surgery of various kinds

It is great to have personal information from so many of you which allows us to produce NZ specific statistics on which to base the future work of the Board, so stay well and warm, and please stay in touch.

Questionnaire Bytes  May  2010

The data from 388 surveys has now been processed, and the numbers will be added to as additional responses are received. 

Some information:

  • 44% of respondents can now be contacted by email
  • We have replies from 7 people who did not have polio (medical professionals, family members, carers) and we have 10 replies from non-members of the National body.  If you know any more people in these categories who need a questionnaire please let us know, so that our statistics can become truly representative.
  • 93.84% of replies came from New Zealander Pakehas with the remaining 6.16% specifying their ethnic origins as 7 people who come from the UK , 5 who are Maori, 2 who are Europeans (country not specified,) 1 Chilean, 3 Australian, 1 Irish, 2 South African, 1 Yugoslav, 1 Indian, and 1 Canadian.
  • Responses indicate 1 contracted polio in the Ukraine, 27 contracted polio in the UK, 6 in Australia, 1 in Chile, 1 in Papua New Guinea,1 in Ceylon, 2 in Canada, 2 in India, 1 in USA, 1 in Egypt,1 in Kenya, 1 contracted polio at sea en route to NZ, 4 in South Africa,1 in Germany, 1 in Ireland, 1 in Northern Ireland, with the remainder contracting polio in NZ.
  • Age when polio was contracted

27 people got polio between birth and 1 year

216 people got polio between 1-10 years

88 people got polio between11-20 years

47 people got polio between 21-30 years

5 people got polio between 31-60 years

The youngest got polio at birth and the oldest respondent got polio at 53