A Review of Conceptual Models for Rehabilitation Research and Practice

Abstract

Background: Since rehabilitation practice focuses on working in multidisciplinary teams to optimize the physical, psychological, and social outcomes of the patient, conceptual models are extremely important in providing a theoretical basis for advancing scientific knowledge and improving professional practice. Aim: Although rehabilitation-related conceptual models have appeared in the literature more than fifty years ago or so, there has been no systematic efforts to review them. The purpose of this paper is to explore the existing rehabilitation models and to link these models to the ICF model of the World Health Organization. Methods: A structured literature search was performed in different databases including Medline and PubMed using terms such as: “rehabilitation” AND “Model” OR “Framework” OR “conceptualization”. 43 citations were identified and further evaluated by two judges according to pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results: Six conceptual rehabilitation models were identified in the literature: the Biomedical Model, the Social Model, the Bio-Psycho-Social Model (BPS), the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps Model (ICIDH), the Community Based Rehabilitation Model (CBR), and the Health-Related Quality of Life Model (HRQoL). The concepts on which the models are built were linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) domains. The strengths and limitations of each model are discussed. The majority of the concepts from the six models could be linked to the ICF model. Conclusion: By applying the conceptual models, an additional perspective can be added by rehabilitation therapists to multidisciplinary teams that use the ICF model. When relationships are highly complex, as they are in rehabilitation processes, it is challenging to develop models that are applied in different contexts. However, it is possible to establish relationships between different variables that are observable.