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Strategies to reduce waiting times in outpatient rehabilitation services for adults with physical disabilities: A systematic literature review.

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Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (Cirris), 560498Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, Canada.
      Authors
    • Dupuis F 1
    • Déry J 1
    • Lucas de Oliveira FC 1
    • Pecora AT 1
    • Gagnon R 1
    • Roy JS 1
    • Lettre J 1
    • Deslauriers S 1
    • Lamontagne MÈ 1
    • Routhier F 1
    • Hébert LJ 1
    • Perreault K 1
    (12 authors)
  • 2. Allied Health Clinical Research Office, Eastern Health, Victoria, Australia.
      Authors
    • Harding K 2
    (1 author)
  • 3. École de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, 12370Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
      Authors
    • Camden C 3
    (1 author)
  • 4. École de Réadaptation, 12368Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
      Authors
    • Hudon A 4
    • Feldman D 4
    • Desmeules F 4
    (3 authors)
  • 5. Département des Sciences de la santé communautaire, 7321Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, QC, Canada.
      Authors
    • Beauséjour M 5
    (1 author)
    • Show all (9)

ORCIDs linked to this article

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Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 12 Feb 2022, 27(2):157-167
https://doi.org/10.1177/13558196211065707 PMID: 35156442 

Review

Abstract 

Objective

Identifying effective strategies to reduce waiting times is a crucial issue in many areas of health services. Long waiting times for rehabilitation services have been associated with numerous adverse effects in people with disabilities. The main objective of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to assess the effectiveness of service redesign strategies to reduce waiting times in outpatient rehabilitation services for adults with physical disabilities.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review, searching three databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE) from their inception until May 2021. We identified studies with comparative data evaluating the effect of rehabilitation services redesign strategies on reducing waiting times. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. A narrative synthesis was conducted.

Results

Nineteen articles including various settings and populations met the selection criteria. They covered physiotherapy (n = 11), occupational therapy (n = 2), prosthetics (n = 1), exercise physiology (n = 1) and multidisciplinary (n = 4) services. The methodological quality varied (n = 10 high quality, n = 6 medium, n = 3 low); common flaws being missing information on the pre-redesign setting and characteristics of the populations. Seven articles assessed access processes or referral management strategies (e.g. self-referral), four focused on extending/modifying the roles of service providers (e.g. to triage) and eight changed the model of care delivery (e.g. mode of intervention). The different redesign strategies had positive effects on waiting times in outpatient rehabilitation services.

Conclusions

This review highlights the positive effects of many service redesign strategies. These findings suggest that there are several effective strategies to choose from to reduce waiting times and help better respond to the needs of persons experiencing physical disabilities.

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Read article at publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.1177/13558196211065707

Read article for free, from open access legal sources, via Unpaywall: https://corpus.ulaval.ca/bitstreams/2661ea0d-2503-4ff1-b6ce-97bcebe7bc35/downloadUnpaywall

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Funding 

Funders who supported this work.

CIHR

    Réseau Provincial de Recherche en Adaptation-Réadaptation

      Réseau québécois de recherche sur la douleur

        The Center for Interdisciplinary Research for Rehabilitation and Social Integration