Service development to meet the needs for rehabilitation in the community in Vietnam

Abstract

A project to support social participation of people in the community with stroke and traumatic brain injury was established in Vietnam. The project was managed by a university in Japan and financially supported by the Japanese government to set up services of Day Care and Home Visits. An occupational therapist provided consultancy for physical therapists in a large hospital in Vietnam in 2006-2008. Because of the lack of educational institutions or schools in occupational therapy in Vietnam, the occupational therapists trained physical therapists through on-the-job and intensive training during the three-year project to undertake home care and social participation services. The article presents how the occupational therapist facilitated physical therapists to provide the current rehabilitation services in the community in Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam.