The “Rehabilitation Research Framework for COVID-19 patients” defined by Cochrane Rehabilitation and the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Programme

Negrini, Stefano; Mills, Jody-Anne; Arienti, Chiara; Kiekens, Carlotte; Cieza, Alarcos

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in surge of research activity. Since its outset, efforts have been made to guide the rapid generation of research in medicine. There are gaps in some areas of rehabilitation research for patients with COVID-19. The development of a specific research framework might serve to help monitor the status of research (mapping), shape and strengthen research by pointing to under-investigated areas, and promote rehabilitation research in this context. This paper introduces and discusses the COVID-19 Rehabilitation Research Framework (CRRF) and presents the methodology used for its development. The questions have been developed among the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Programme, Cochrane Rehabilitation and the experts of its REH-COVER (Rehabilitation – COVID-19 Evidence-based Response) Action International Multiprofessional Steering Committee. The framework is divided into two parts and includes 20 questions organized in four groups: epidemiology, and evidence at the micro- (individual), meso- (health services) and macro- (health systems) level. The CRRF offers a comprehensive view of the research areas relevant to COVID-19 and rehabilitation that are necessary to inform best practice and ensure rehabilitation services and health systems can best serve the COVID-19 population. The collaboration between Cochrane Rehabilitation and the WHO Rehabilitation Programme in establishing the CRRF brought together perspectives from the health systems, health management and clinical evidence. The authors encourage researchers to use the CRRF when planning studies on rehabilitation in the context of COVID-19.