Beyond Disability: Assessing Participation and Autonomy in Medical Rehabilitation

Abstract

The objective of the study was to explore the concept of participation and autonomy in relation to medical rehabilitation, and to develop a questionnaire addressing this theme. In rehabilitation, the traditional method of assessing the needs of people with a chronic disabling condition is to measure their level of physical disability. However, a focus on physical aspects alone misrepresents the complexity of human functioning in everyday life, and may distract the attention from other areas of importance. Long-term outcomes in terms of the impact of physical disability on social participation are paramount, since people with a chronic disabling condition are faced with the consequences of illness or disability for the rest of their life. When considering social participation, individual autonomy is a vital concept, because different people lead different lives in different contexts. Respect for individual autonomy is central to a client-centred approach.