Affiliations: The Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation
Centre, Guangzhou, China
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Yanwen Xu, M.Phil, The Guangdong
Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation Centre, Wenquan Eastern Road 105, Wenquan
Town, Conghua, Guangzhou, China. Tel.: +86 20 87830238; Fax: +86 20 87830338;
E-mail: xudeng2@163.com
Abstract: Objectives: A systematic review was conducted on the literature
regarding the development of work rehabilitation in Mainland China. Method: Two databases, one in Chinese and one in English, were used
for searching reports published between 1994 and 2004 on work rehabilitation
services provided in medical institutions to patients with disability
associated with various types of injuries. Results: A total of 66 papers were identified, and only 14 studies
matched the inclusion criteria for this review. There was strong evidence that
work rehabilitation services provided in the medical institutions for
disability were underdeveloped in Mainland China; and misunderstandings of work
rehabilitation were widespread. Conclusions: Work rehabilitation is still a fairly new concept in
Mainland China. The importance of work rehabilitation is not
considered/realized in medical institutions during the process of medical
treatment and rehabilitation. Further studies on work rehabilitation provided
in medical institutions should be conducted to develop appropriate local
technologies and services for the patients.
Keywords: Development, work rehabilitation, medical institution, disability, rehabilitation
