Rehabilitation research under fire

Catastrophes in the health area are frequent. A template for conduct and reporting of research in disaster responses has recently been published. The WHO Rehabilitation of War Victims Project basically followed these principles in former Yugoslavia to estimate defined needs, prioritise and evaluate methods used. Around 30% of war victims reported to be wounded were found to be in need of physical rehabilitation. Priority was given to the 5% with severe disabilities caused by amputations, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Most of the infrastructure was destroyed and WHO supported a community based rehabilitation approach (CBR). Evaluating this type of service delivery became extremely difficult under present circumstances. Waves of refugees rolled both within the republics and over the borders demonstrating both the needs and problems listed in the template referred to. The CBR service delivery worked out satisfactorily with high patient satisfaction. Limited medical training greatly improved the situation for the personnel. Even in a disaster situation research is needed for proper decision-making and to gain experiences for future aid.