ABSTRACT
The focus of rehabilitation is to promote function, prevent complications and adapt the environment to the individual. Teamwork is the cornerstone in rehabilitation. In an interdisciplinary model, the efforts of each member of the team are coordinated towards mutual goals, which require collaboration and communication for a common patient-centred strategy.
The goals of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) are to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to promote long-term adherence to health-enhancing behaviours. The central components of these programmes are medical assessment, optimization of medical treatment, identification and control of risk factors, exercise training, physical activity, breathing techniques, nutritional assessment and intervention, psychological, social and behavioural intervention, education and information, energy conservation techniques teaching and evaluation of programme quality.
An interdisciplinary model identifies available skill sets rather than specific healthcare professionals. The family and the patient are an integral part of the team. The team coordinator should have an understanding of the medical, physical and emotional condition of each patient and be prepared to model the programme to suit the individual patient at any specific time. In most countries, PR programmes are physician led.
Team decision-making is better and more consistent than that of individuals, and synergy of combined group activity should result in better outcomes for patients. Barriers for team models as well as skills and attitudes toward teamwork need to be improved.
