Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2025
Using Continuous Data Tracking Technology to Study Exercise Adherence in Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Published on: November 8, 2013
Development of a World Health Organization indicator and corresponding questions to measure effective coverage of
Wouter De Groote1, Pierre Côté2, Jessica J Wong2
1Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation Unit, Department for Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
Background:
Rehabilitation services are essential health services that should be made available to a population. Measuring effective coverage requires the assessment of whether a population's health services needs are met and whether they are met through quality interventions that produce the desired health gain. We propose a global indicator and corresponding questions to measure effective coverage of rehabilitation through population-based surveys.
Methods:
An indicator to measure effective coverage of rehabilitation requires a clear definition of rehabilitation service need, utilization, and quality. These terms are defined for a tracer health condition with impact on functioning and for which rehabilitation services are beneficial. We selected chronic primary low back pain as the tracer health condition. Following technical input from experts early 2023, we drafted and cognitively tested a set of questions from August till November 2023 to provide key data points for calculating the number of people living with chronic primary low back pain who received rehabilitation services. To determine whether quality rehabilitation services have been delivered, the health gain or benefit can be measured using a valid functioning measure with a known Minimal Important Change value, i.e. a minimal improvement that is meaningful to the client. We selected the shorter version of World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 to meet this criterion.
Findings:
The proposed global indicator is defined as the proportion of adults with chronic primary LBP experiencing limitations in functioning that benefited from rehabilitation. There are eight corresponding questions to calculate the number of adults with chronic primary LBP experiencing limitations in functioning and utilizing rehabilitation services. The assessment of a benefit of received rehabilitation services is based on a change in functioning that is greater than the Minimal Important Change measured with World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 12-item (simple scoring). The Minimal Important Change was set at 6 points following a secondary analysis of studies reporting on rehabilitation outcomes for people with chronic low back pain.
Interpretation:
We propose a global tracer indicator for measuring effective coverage of rehabilitation at the population level that is captured through population-based surveys. This global indicator uses chronic primary low back pain as the tracer health condition and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 12-item to assess whether quality interventions have been provided that produce the desired health gain.
Funding:
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
More Related Videos
06:52Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
08:13Development and Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Technology Enhanced Care Pathway for Youth and Adults with Concussion
Published on: January 20, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:19Restorative Care
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
01:26Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...