SYSTEM OF PREVOCATIONAL REHABILITATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Prevocational rehabilitation is performed by members of the rehabilitation team to get a functional assessment of the psychosensomotor potential for employment purposes for people with disabilities (patients/clients). Standard methodologies were divided into basic, recommended and special methods for determining the psychosensomotor potential for empolyement. The functional basic methodologies include: Barthel Index, Instrumental routine daily activities test, Daily structure, Interest questionnaire, Self-assessment of pain, Sensory examination, Work curve by Emil Kraepelin and Richard Pauli, Jebsen-Taylor Test, PurduePegboard test - model 320 20, Jamar Dynamometer, Isernhagen Work System, Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment, Activity Matching Ability System, WHO DAS II. The recommended methodologies include examinations by experts that each facility is obliged to ensure, if necessary, for example, targeted and comprehensive assessment, spiroergometry, speech examination, psychological, psychiatric examination, hearing examination, visual examination. Special methodologies are according specialization of rehabilitation facilities. Our Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is focused on patients with brain damage, therefore we use Rivermead Behaviour Memory Test, Mini Mental State Examination , The Middlesex Elderly Assessment of Mental State, Prevocational assessment according to Jacobs, Canadian model of employment, General office test Functional, Independence Measure etc. The prevocational evaluation result is sending to Labour Offices and should not contain any confidential medical information. This report may contain recommendations for further education or retraining. Physician completes the discharge paper and he summarizes the evaluation of the rehabilitation team members. This report includes positive employment recommendations and work restrictions

SYSTEM OF PREVOCATIONAL REHABILITATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Prevocational rehabilitation is performed by members of the rehabilitation team to get a functional assessment of the psychosensomotor potential for employment purposes for people with disabilities (patients/clients). Standard methodologies were divided into basic, recommended and special methods for determining the psychosensomotor potential for empolyement. The functional basic methodologies include: Barthel Index, Instrumental routine daily activities test, Daily structure, Interest questionnaire, Self-assessment of pain, Sensory examination, Work curve by Emil Kraepelin and Richard Pauli, Jebsen-Taylor Test, PurduePegboard test - model 320 20, Jamar Dynamometer, Isernhagen Work System, Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment, Activity Matching Ability System, WHO DAS II. The recommended methodologies include examinations by experts that each facility is obliged to ensure, if necessary, for example, targeted and comprehensive assessment, spiroergometry, speech examination, psychological, psychiatric examination, hearing examination, visual examination. Special methodologies are according specialization of rehabilitation facilities. Our Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is focused on patients with brain damage, therefore we use Rivermead Behaviour Memory Test, Mini Mental State Examination , The Middlesex Elderly Assessment of Mental State, Prevocational assessment according to Jacobs, Canadian model of employment, General office test Functional, Independence Measure etc. The prevocational evaluation result is sending to Labour Offices and should not contain any confidential medical information. This report may contain recommendations for further education or retraining. Physician completes the discharge paper and he summarizes the evaluation of the rehabilitation team members. This report includes positive employment recommendations and work restrictions

Policy guidelines for effective inclusion and reintegration of people with chronic diseases in the workplace : national and European perspectives

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim of the present paper was to explore the perspectives of European and National-level stakeholders on existing strategies for work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases, and to provide policy guidelines. A highly-structured interview protocol was distributed to 58 National level stakeholders (policy makers, professionals and employers) from seven European countries. Additionally, 20 European organizations concerned with health-related issues and employment completed an online survey. The findings reveal that employment-related challenges remain largely unaddressed. Both national and European stakeholders considered the existing legislative frameworks inadequate and appraised the co-ordination for the implementation of employment re-integration policies as ineffective. Policies targeting at work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases at European and national level should focus on consistent cooperation among all key stakeholders, awareness raising to staff and management, dissemination of effective strategies, developing research and evaluation standards and establishing monitoring systems on inclusive labour markets

Mapping European Welfare Models: State of the Art of Strategies for Professional Integration and Reintegration of Persons with Chronic Diseases

Background: Persons with chronic diseases (PwCDs) often experience work-related problems, and innovative actions to improve their participation in the labor market are needed. In the frame of the European (EU) Pathways Project, the aim of the study is to compare existing strategies (policies, systems, and services) for professional (re-)integration of PwCDs and mental health conditions available at both European and national level between different European welfare models: Scandinavian, Continental, Anglo-Saxon, Mediterranean, and “Post-Communist”. Method: The European strategies were identified by an overview of relevant academic and grey literature searched through Medline and internet searches, while national strategies were explored through questionnaires and in-depth interviews with national relevant stakeholders. Results: The mapping of existing strategies revealed that, both at European and national level, PwCDs are often considered as part of the group of “persons with disabilities” and only in this case they can receive employment support. European countries put in place actions to support greater labor market participation, but these differ from country to country. Conclusion: Strategies targeting “persons with disabilities” do not necessarily address all the needs of persons with chronic diseases. Countries should consider the importance of employment for all to achieve smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth

Identifying the Employment Needs of People with Chronic Health Conditions in Europe

OBJECTIVES The main goal of this study was to compare the employment needs experienced by people with different chronic health conditions and in different welfare systems. METHODS A total of 688 participants with six chronic health conditions were collected in ninecountries representing four welfare systems in Europe (Continental, Mediterranean, Post-communist and Scandinavian). RESULTS Raisingawareness of what is to live with a chronic health condition in the workplace was the area perceived as more favorable. The types of employment needs were different across the social welfare systems but did not vary among the different chronic health conditions groups. CONCLUSION Although diverse, there appear to be some common needs transversal to the working experience of people with chronic health problems. Actions to improve the employability of people with chronic health conditions should be tailored to each welfare system

Policy guidelines for effective inclusion and reintegration of people with chronic diseases in the workplace: national and european perspectives

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim of the present paper was to explore the perspectives of European and National-level stakeholders on existing strategies for work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases, and to provide policy guidelines. A highly-structured interview protocol was distributed to 58 National level stakeholders (policy makers, professionals and employers) from seven European countries. Additionally, 20 European organizations concerned with health-related issues and employment completed an online survey. The findings reveal that employment-related challenges remain largely unaddressed. Both national and European stakeholders considered the existing legislative frameworks inadequate and appraised the co-ordination for the implementation of employment re-integration policies as ineffective. Policies targeting at work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases at European and national level should focus on consistent cooperation among all key stakeholders, awareness raising to staff and management, dissemination of effective strategies, developing research and evaluation standards and establishing monitoring systems on inclusive labour markets

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: development of capacity and performance scales

Objective: There has been no attempt to obtain a continuous summary measure of disability from the checklist of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Our objective was to assess whether valid scales of Capacity and Performance could be developed from the "Activities and Participation" domain of the ICF checklist.Study design and setting: A multicenter, observational study of 1,092 patients with 12 different chronic conditions from five European countries was conducted. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the underlying factor structure. Reliability and validity of the Capacity and Performance scales were evaluated. Construct validity was assessed calculating effect size coefficients between extreme severity groups (discriminant ability).Results: The good fit of the confirmatory factor model supported the global scales of Capacity and Performance and their "Psychosocial" and "Physical" subscales. Reliability was excellent (coefficients=0.79-0.92). Effect sizes of most conditions were large for the Capacity global scale (0.50-3.05), and slightly lower for the Performance global scale (0.45-2.57).Conclusions: Our findings support the measurement model, reliability, and validity of the Capacity and Performance scales. Summary measures of functioning based on the ICF can be obtained using these scales, which should facilitate their incorporation in clinical and epidemiological studies