Providing research evidence for WHO guideline on rehabilitation services

Reasons for the study

According to 2011 data, one in seven people around the world live with a disability, 80 per cent in low- to middle-income countries where rehabilitation services are wanting or even non-existent. Unmet needs for rehabilitation services can affect people with disabilities in a number of ways, potentially leading to a deterioration in general health status, activity limitations, participation restrictions and reduced quality of life. That’s why strengthening rehabilitation is emerging as a key challenge facing health systems in the 21st century, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This project synthesized the research evidence on a host of questions to support the WHO in establishing guidelines on rehabilitation services.

Objectives of the study

  • To determine what service-provision models work for different health conditions/resource settings/phases to ensure the delivery of rehabilitation services
  • To determine what types of assessment tools can be used to ensure individuals’ rehabilitation needs are adequately identified

Related scientific publications

Related interviews and articles

IWH Speaker Series presentations

Project status

Completed 2017

Research team

  • Andrea Furlan, Institute for Work & Health (PI)
  • Dorcas Beaton, Institute for Work & Health
  • Cynthia Chen, Institute for Work & Health
  • Mary Cicinelli, Institute for Work & Health
  • Jocelyn Dollack, Institute for Work & Health
  • Emma Irvin, Institute for Work & Health
  • Carol Kennedy-Yee, Institute for Work & Health
  • Claire Munhall, Institute for Work & Health
  • Mark Bayley, University of Toronto
  • Rohit Bhide, University of Toronto
  • Alicia Costante, University of Toronto
  • C Borkhoff, University of Toronto
  • Shivang Danak, University of Toronto
  • John Flannery, University of Toronto
  • Laura Fullerton, University of Toronto
  • Stanislav Marchenko, University of Toronto
  • M Sachdeva, University of Toronto
  • Gaetan Tardif, University of Toronto
  • Judy David, Christian Medical College Hospital
  • Robert McMaster, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Mario Giraldo-Prieto, Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación
  • Quenby Mahood, Institute for Work & Health

Collaborators and partners

  • Toronto Institute of Rehabilitation
  • University of Sao Paulo - Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • University of Toronto
  • World Health Organization

Funded by

World Health Organization