Patients' expectations, motivation and multi-dimensional subjective and objective socio-medical success in medical rehabilitation measures

This report describes the subjective and objective socio-medical rehabilitation success of a cohort of patients with a primary musculoskeletal or cardiovascular diagnosis 1 year after medical rehabilitation. Furthermore, the predictive value of patients' motivation, expectations and subjective need for rehabilitation, at time of application, on rehabilitation success are examined. Data were derived from a German study, comparing different methods of social medical assessments for the selection of patients for inpatient medical rehabilitation. The results discussed refer to a sample of 352 patients with primary orthopaedic or cardiovascular disease who replied to the 1-year follow-up survey. Rehabilitation subjectively had positive effects for the majority and a positive socio-medical outcome (for at least 80% of the participants); although there was lower subjective success concerning job-related problems and working ability. Multiple regression analysis showed that somatic impairments, functional disabilities in general life as well as health and coping-related expectations/motivation are significant predictors of rehabilitation success. Generally, the explained variance by the regression model was low and further potential criteria of rehabilitation success should be investigated.