Current Reports on Rehabilitation

The project comprises several small-scale studies that will respond to current information needs relating to the use of Kela’s rehabilitation benefits during 2023–2024. Two studies will be carried out in 2023: The use of remote rehabilitation in rehabilitative psychotherapy and an initial investigation into rehabilitation among the Sámi people. The studies to be carried out in 2024 will be specified later.

The aim of the study on the use of remote rehabilitation in rehabilitative psychotherapy is to produce information on the use of remote rehabilitation in rehabilitative psychotherapy using a questionnaire. The study is a follow-up to a survey conducted in 2020, which examined the effects of the coronavirus crisis on the implementation of outpatient individual therapy. The current survey will be targeted at Kela professionals who implement rehabilitative psychotherapy during spring 2023. The data analysis method is theory-driven content analysis. The results of the study can be utilised in the development of rehabilitation psychotherapy within and outside of Kela in the development of remote service implementation.

The initial report on rehabilitation among the Sámi people will survey the use of Kela rehabilitation services by the Sámi, as well as the current state of their service satisfaction and referral to rehabilitation. The study will be carried out in two parts: an exploratory literature review and a survey, as well as interviews on the experiences and views of the Sámi people and of those referring them to rehabilitation. The data is analysed using qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistical methods.

Researchers

• Sari Miettinen, Leading Researcher
• Sonja Tuomisto
• Markku Laatu
• Tuija Partanen

Project Implementation Period

13.2.2023–31.12.2024. The project has ended.

Project Results

The project encompassed three studies on the use of Kela-paid rehabilitation benefits: 1) a survey on the use of remote rehabilitation in psychotherapy, 2) an overview of the current state of Kela-provided rehabilitation services available for the Sámi-speaking population, and 3) a separate study to evaluate the benefits of Kela-provided vocational rehabilitation. The data used in the studies encompassed surveys, interviews and Kela’s register for rehabilitation service outcome evaluations. The first study showed that remote rehabilitation can support access to therapy services but that several important perspectives must be taken into consideration therein. The study examined existing recommendations for the use of remote rehabilitation. The results confirmed that the recommendations work well in practice and should continue to be used in the future. The second study showed that Sámi-speaking clients and referring professionals agreed that Sámi speakers benefit from Kela rehabilitation. However, the study also found that there is room for improvement in referral to rehabilitation, that interpreters are not always used despite them being available, and that cultural aspects should be better taken into account during each client’s rehabilitation process. The third study, which looked at Kela-provided vocational rehabilitation, found that, among those who participated in TEAK rehabilitation, the percentage of participants who were employed or enrolled in education remained almost the same (approx. 50% of participants) during the observation period following the completion of their rehabilitation. Overall, the study found clear positive changes in many of the indicators used to evaluate rehabilitation outcomes.

Publications

• ”Toivottavasti sinne menee saamelaisia enemmän, etteivät kuole kaikki ne kurssit”: selvitys saamenkielisille asiakkaille suunnattujen Kelan kuntoutuspalveluiden nykytilasta (Työpapereita, Kela)
• Saamenkieliset asiakkaat kokevat hyötyvänsä Kelan kuntoutuksesta, mutta kulttuurisia ja kielellisiä tarpeita pitäisi huomioida paremmin (Kelan Tutkimusblogi)