[Need for Information about Medical Rehabilitation of Persons with German Pension Insurance: a Written Survey]. / Informationsbedürfnisse von Versicherten der Deutschen Rentenversicherung zur medizinischen Rehabilitation ­ eine schriftliche Befragung.

AIM: In order to acquire target group-specific information on rehabilitation for members of the German pension insurance, they were asked about their ideas about medical rehabilitation and desired information regarding subjects and kind of information transfer. METHOD: The core of the project was a written survey of members of the German pension insurance. N=600 insured people were invited to participate in the study. The questionnaire was developed in a qualitative pre-study. RESULTS: N=196 questionnaires were evaluated. Recovery of working ability was mentioned by most persons as the aim of medical rehabilitation. The most common idea regarding indication for rehabilitation was a specific operation. Physiotherapy was most often considered as therapy during medical rehabilitation. Information about formal steps, realistic aims and rehabilitation clinics were important. A conversation with their physician, written information material and a website were the preferred information pathways. Two-thirds of participants thought that information about medical rehabilitation was important even though they had no rehabilitation indication at the time of survey. CONCLUSION: The identified target-related information needs can be considered in a need-oriented development of information material. These can contribute to an informed decision for members of the German pension insurance for or against medical rehabilitation or an application for rehabilitation. Moreover, patient-oriented information can contribute to more successful rehabilitation participation, higher satisfaction with and a better rating of medical rehabilitation.

[Telephone Aftercare by Social Services to Improve Return to Work after Medical Rehabilitation]. / Telefonische sozialdienstliche Nachsorge zur Verbesserung der beruflichen Reintegration nach stationärer medizinischer Rehabilitation.

Aim Many patients are discharged from the rehabilitation clinic with a restored working ability, but are often unemployed or there is a mismatch between their skills and the job requirements. Those patients often feel to be left alone with their problems regarding their adequate occupational reintegration and wish to be supported over the course of stationary rehabilitation in terms of socio-legal and social-medical issues. The randomized controlled trial investigated if a 12 month telephone aftercare conducted by staff of the social service has a positive influence on occupational reintegration. Method Patients with severe limitations of work-related functioning were recruited in one rehabilitation center and randomized at the end of rehabilitation. The intervention group (N=171) received a telephone aftercare for 12 month by staff of the social service, the control group (N=162) received the standard aftercare recommendation. The risk of an unsuccessful occupational reintegration was operationalized by means of 3 items, which where summed up to a risk index. The evaluation of the aftercare was conducted by written survey on 3 measurement points. Results Overall 333 patients were included in the study. 45% (N=152) of the sample were female, the mean age was 50 years. 12 month after rehabilitation 71% (N=120) of patients from the intervention group stated to be employed. In the control group the proportion amounts to 68% (N=110; p=0.074, CI -0.0718; 0.1252). The control group has a significant higher risk constellation according to the risk score for occupational reintegration as the intervention group. Conclusion The risk score shows significant advantages for patients in the intervention group. The risk of a non-successful reintegration 12 month after rehabilitation was significant lower in the intervention group. All further occupational and health related outcomes indicate only moderate differences. These should be considered against the background of the low-threshold intervention. The telephone aftercare by staff of the social service was rated as very helpful by most of the patients in the intervention group.

[Subjective Level of Information and Information Needs of Patients with an Approved Rehabilitation Application and Patients at the End of Rehabilitation Results of a Written Survey]. / Subjektiver Informationsstand und Informationsbedürfnisse von Versicherten mit bewilligtem Rehabilitationsantrag und Rehabilitanden am Ende der Rehabilitation Ergebnisse einer schriftlichen Befragung .

AimThe aim of the study was to identify the subjective level of information and information needs of patients with an approved rehabilitation application and patients at the end of rehabilitation with regard to preferred subjects and kind of information transfer. Method Written survey with N=283 patients with approved rehabilitation application and N=388 patients at the end of rehabilitation. ResultsBoth groups reported high information needs particularly regarding treatments during rehabilitation, rehabilitation aftercare and rehabilitation aims. A conversation with their physician, a brochure and a website are the preferred information pathways. Conclusion Taking into account the topics for which both groups require information and the preference regarding the kind of information transfer can make a valuable contribution for the development of needs-oriented information material.