Supporting government policies to embed and expand rehabilitation in health systems in Europe: A framework for action. Issue 3 (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Skempes, Dimitrios; Kiekens, Carlotte; Malmivaara, Anti; Michail, Xanthi; Bickenbach, Jerome; Stucki, Gerold
• Is Part Of: Health policy. Volume 126:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: rehabilitation -- health policy -- health planning -- strategic planning -- action plans -- delivery of health care -- health care quality -- access and evaluation -- health system strengthening -- health services for persons with disabilities; Medical education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Delivery of Health Care -- Periodicals; Education, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; Health Planning -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Enseignement médical -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Medical education; Medical policy; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.06.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-8510

Abstract

Abstract: Investment in action is vital to confront the challenges associated with chronic diseases and disability facing European health systems. Although relevant policy responses are being increasingly developed, most of them fail to recognize the role of rehabilitation services in achieving public health and social goals. Comprehensive guidance is thus urgently needed to support rehabilitation policy development and expand access to rehabilitation care to meet population needs effectively. This paper describes a framework to guide policy action for rehabilitation in Europe. The framework was developed in collaboration with the European Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine based on a focused literature review and expert consultations. A review in PubMed and grey literature sources identified 458 references and resulted in 135 relevant documents published between 2006 and 2019. Thematic analysis of extracted information helped summarize the findings and develop the draft policy action framework. This was circulated to a wider group of experts and discussed in three workshops in 2018-2019. The framework was revised according to their feedback. The proposed framework contains 48 options for policy action organized in six domains and twelve subdomains that address several areas of health programming. The proposed framework provides a structure to understand the policy terrain related to rehabilitation in Europe and the measures required for translating aspirational political pronouncements into targeted programmatic action and tangible health and social outcomes. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract