Rehabilitation - definition for research purposes

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Disability Studies
• Health Policy

Background:

• Existing rehabilitation definitions are varied and inconsistent across scientific, health, and social domains.
• The Cochrane Rehabilitation's 2022 publication of the Rehabilitation Definition for Research Purposes (RDRP) aimed to resolve these discrepancies.
• The RDRP is grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the Polish version of the RDRP, ensuring a standardized definition of rehabilitation.
• To facilitate clear-cut criteria for what constitutes rehabilitation in research and practice.
• To achieve broad agreement among global stakeholders on a unified rehabilitation definition.

Main Methods:

• The translation process adhered to the recommendations of the European Union of Medical Specialists' Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Section and Board.
• A multidisciplinary translation group included rehabilitation professionals, individuals with disabilities, and linguists.
• Consensus was reached among a wide range of rehabilitation professionals and end-users for the Polish version.

Main Results:

• The Polish version of the RDRP was successfully established through a consensus process.
• The RDRP provides explicit criteria for inclusion and exclusion in rehabilitation contexts.
• The finalized RDRP achieved broad agreement among diverse stakeholders.

Conclusions:

• The RDRP can assist researchers in accurately defining rehabilitation interventions and selecting relevant literature for reviews.
• It supports healthcare professionals in developing rehabilitation programs and making informed clinical decisions.
• The RDRP promotes consistency in defining and applying rehabilitation across various settings.