Kontakt 2025, 27(1/2025):74-80 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2025.009

Basic aspects of cooperation between occupational therapists and social workers in the social environment of patients after an acquired brain injurySocial Sciences in Health - Original article

Anna Kuželková1, 2, *, Jitka Vacková1, Markéta Bendová1, Petra Sládková2, 3, Anna Jirků1, Kateřina Pechoušková1, Kateřina Mandátová1
1 University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute of Social and Special-paedagogical Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
2 Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Bulovka University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

Background: Coordinated rehabilitation plays a crucial role in helping patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) to return to active lives. Cooperation between occupational therapists (OTs) and social workers (SWs) is very important during the hospital-to-home transition.

Aim: The primary objective of the project was to map the coordinated rehabilitation of individuals after ABI within their social environment, aiming to help patients reclaim their lives despite the limitations of ABI. The purpose of this article is to identify and describe the impact of medical-social rehabilitation relative to interprofessional cooperation between OTs and SWs in the patient's home environment. The focus is on identifying the critical elements needed to maximize specialist collaboration.

Methods: The research was designed as an experimental qualitative study with auxiliary quantitative indicators in 17 case studies. The study included semi-structured interviews. In addition, the FIM system® and WHODAS 2.0 were used to objectify patient status monitored over time in individual cases.

Results: Five critical elements of cooperation were identified: (1) Quality of life, (2) Self-sufficiency, (3) Evaluation of the home, physical, and social environment, (4) Indication of aids, barrier-free modifications, and their financing, (5) Connection of health and social areas. After coordinated intervention, patients reported a gradual increase in their quality of life and self-sufficiency. The next continuity of rehabilitation services is very desirable, at least for maintaining the effect.

Conclusion: Specialist cooperation prevents patients from getting lost in the complicated systems of health and social services. It maximizes access to and effectiveness of these services, including the availability of financial aid and psychological support.

Keywords: Acquired brain injury; Coordinated rehabilitation; Interdisciplinary team; Occupational therapy; Social work
Grants and funding:

This work was supported by the Project "Coordinated rehabili- tation in patients with brain injury" No. GAJU 138/2016/S.

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: May 23, 2024; Revised: December 30, 2024; Accepted: February 17, 2025; Prepublished online: February 17, 2025; Published: February 27, 2025  Show citation

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Kuželková A, Vacková J, Bendová M, Sládková P, Jirků A, Pechoušková K, Mandátová K. Basic aspects of cooperation between occupational therapists and social workers in the social environment of patients after an acquired brain injury. Kontakt. 2025;27(1):74-80. doi: 10.32725/kont.2025.009.
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