Role of diversity in assembling of rehabilitation teams in Central Europe

Multiprofessional teamwork in physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) allows achieving patient-centered goals in accordance with the assumptions of the bio-psycho-social model of functioning. Team composition and methods of collaboration depend of the specificity of goals to be achieved, as well local contextual factors. International comparative studies on rehabilitation teamwork are lacking, despite data on how teams differ between countries are crucial for the process of harmonization of PRM practice across Europe.

To compare models of collaboration within rehabilitation teams in Central Europe.

A cross-sectional explorative study.

The data were collected in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia between February and June 2018.

PRM physicians.

An anonymous questionnaire inquiring of rehabilitation teamwork details was spread through national PRM societies, and other organizations associating PRM physicians. An ordered logit regression was applied to analyze the results.

Responses were obtained from 455 respondents. Significant differences between the studied countries in the composition of rehabilitation teams and frequencies of team meetings were detected. In the analyzed population of PRM physicians, we found positive associations between the chance of participation in team meetings and working in a hospital, the amount of time devoted to PRM practice, and older age. The chance for patients and caregivers to participate in rehabilitation team meetings was correlated with PRM physician's hospital practice, activity as a PRM teacher, older age and devoting more time to PRM practice. Country specificities of rehabilitation team content were analyzed with regards to local economic, legal, and historical backgrounds, and availability of human resources. Underrepresentation of key professionals (e.g. occupational therapists, orthotists/prosthetists), inadequate distribution of professionals in healthcare and as well as outdated educational systems in some countries may affect the efficacy of the comprehensive care in rehabilitation.

Central European countries differ in rehabilitation teamwork with regard to the contribution of professionals, meeting frequencies, and participation of patients and caregivers. Well-designed studies on teamwork models delineating ways to improve teamwork efficacy are in demand.

Between-country diversity of rehabilitation team content should be considered while planning activities aimed at European harmonization of PRM practice.