How to Conduct International Geriatric Rehabilitation Research?

Haaksma, Miriam L.; Gordon, Adam L.; van Dam van Isselt, Eléonore F.; Schols, Jos M.G.A.; Everink, Irma H.J.; Cameron, Ian D.; Becker, Clemens; Grund, Stefan; Achterberg, Wilco P.

Abstract

With an ageing global population and an increasing focus on aging in place, the number of people in need of geriatric rehabilitation (GR) is rapidly increasing. As current GR practice is very heterogenous, cross-country comparisons could allow us to learn from each other and optimise the effectiveness of GR. However, international GR research comes with many challenges. This article summarises the facilitators and barriers relating to the recruitment of rehabilitation centres, the inclusion of patients, and data collection, as experienced by experts in the field of international GR research. The three most important methodological recommendations for conducting cross-national collaborative research in the field of GR are (1) make use of existing (inter)national networks and social media to aid recruitment of GR centres; (2) clearly define the GR treatment, setting, and patient characteristics in the inclusion criteria; and (3) use a hierarchical study structure to communicate transparently and regularly with both national and local coordinators. International GR research would greatly benefit from the implementation of a core dataset in regular GR care. Therefore, future studies should focus on developing an international consensus regarding the outcomes and corresponding cross-culturally validated measurement instruments to be used during GR.

Citation

Haaksma, M. L., Gordon, A. L., van Dam van Isselt, E. F., Schols, J. M., Everink, I. H., Cameron, I. D., …Achterberg, W. P. (2023). How to Conduct International Geriatric Rehabilitation Research?. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(3), Article 951. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030951

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 23, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 26, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Deposit Date: Jan 27, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 27, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Electronic ISSN: 2077-0383
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 951
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030951
• Keywords: Geriatric rehabilitation; study design; methodology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/16504379
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/3/951