Project 454023

At least one in three people (2.4 billion people) globally will require rehabilitation at some point in their life, and the need for rehabilitation is increasing. However, this increasing need for rehabilitation is largely unmet; many people worldwide who require rehabilitation do not receive these services. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a call to strengthen access to rehabilitation across the world and emphasized that rehabilitation is an essential part of universal health coverage. Back pain is the leading cause of disability and main reason for unmet rehabilitation needs in Canada and globally. These unmet rehabilitation needs may particularly affect older adults with chronic conditions and complex functional limitations. Thus, unmet rehabilitation needs in older adults with back pain are key barriers to health and well-being. My research will develop prevention strategies and monitor effective delivery of rehabilitation services through three main aims: 1) to determine the incidence and determinants (including social and behavioural factors) of unmet rehabilitation needs in older adults with back pain in Canada; 2) to develop and validate a population risk tool to predict unmet rehabilitation needs in the older adult population with back pain; and 3) to assess the utility of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule questionnaire as an indicator of effective coverage for back pain rehabilitation globally. I will leverage national longitudinal data to understand the burden, determinants and health inequities of unmet rehabilitation needs for back pain. This novel population risk tool will guide optimal prevention strategies and planning for health care and back pain rehabilitation. An indicator for use in population-based surveys will allow stakeholders in Canada and globally to track effective delivery of rehabilitation for back pain worldwide. This research will have unique contributions and policy impact to improve health for Canadians.