[Attitude of physicians to rehabilitation--an empirical study of rheumatologists]

Although the medical doctor holds a central steering function in making rehabilitation referrals, hardly any empirically founded information is available on physicians' attitudes towards rehabilitation, their indication considerations and actual referral practice. Prompted essentially by this information deficit, an anonymous questionnaire study was undertaken with 49 rheumatologists concerning their knowledge and experience in rehabilitation, their views of various forms of rehabilitation (inpatient, partial-hospitalization, out-patient) as well as medical further education in rehabilitation subjects. Reflecting a positive basic view of rehabilitation, nearly half of the responding rheumatologists subjectively felt well-informed about rehabilitative issues, with 49% stating that they frequently recommended patients for rehabilitation. As far as preferences are concerned in terms of community vs. non-community rehabilitation concepts, priority is given by 39% to partial-hospitalization rehabilitation ("most favourable"); more than 75% of the interviewees however advocated case-by-case decision-making. Accordingly, only 18% consider ambulatory or day centre programmes true alternatives for inpatient rehabilitation, and 78% rather consider them complementary to each other. The advantage of partial-hospitalization rehabilitation close to the rehabilitee's place of living is seen above all in potential involvement of relatives and family doctor. Aspects stated in favour of non-community inpatient rehabilitation primarily are getting away from stressful family surroundings and the comprehensive medical programme available. A strong need for rehabilitation-related further education is expressed, with forms of rehabilitation, psychosocial rehabilitation, and access modes among the primary contents to be addressed.