What is rehabilitation? An empirical investigation leading to an evidence-based description.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is no agreement about or understanding of what rehabilitation is; those who pay for it, those who provide it, and those who receive it all have different interpretations. Furthermore, within each group, there will be a variety of opinions. Definitions based on authority or on theory also vary and do not give a clear description of what someone buying, providing, or receiving rehabilitation can actually expect.

Method

This editorial extracts information from systematic reviews that find rehabilitation to be effective, to discover the key features and to develop an empirical definition.

Findings

The evidence shows that rehabilitation may benefit any person with a long-lasting disability, arising from any cause, may do so at any stage of the illness, at

SUBMITTER: Wade DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7350200 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature