The concept of interdisciplinary practice in physical rehabilitation is still developing in Pakistan, and it is uncommon for rehabilitation professionals, especially those from different provinces, to collaborate or even discuss challenges and compare management methods.
The recent ReLAB-HS clinical skills training programme in Pakistan marked a significant step in bridging these gaps. Over three months, this comprehensive training initiative covered all facets of spinal cord injury (SCI) management. The programme, aimed at overcoming the typical barriers to interdisciplinary education and collaboration, successfully united 14 rehabilitation professionals from diverse backgrounds including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, and clinical psychology.
“Thank you, I really appreciate the efforts and dedication of the facilitators & ReLAB-HS for organising such an impactful course.”
Participants engaged in weekly online Physiopedia Plus courses and took part in online discussion forums. Regular mentoring sessions, led by both local and international mentors, were conducted to reinforce and contextualise the online coursework. And, most importantly, the programme included a 3-day face-to-face training session, providing participants with a rare opportunity to meet in person and practice their skills with real patients.
This training initiative, hosted by Paraplegic Centre Peshawar (PCP), was groundbreaking. According to Ilyas Syed, CEO of PCP, it was the first of its kind in the history of Pakistan. The programme received positive feedback from both participants and trainers, who praised its interactive and motivating approach to continued professional education in clinical skills.
“The facilitators find it a very interactive and motivated model of training continued professional education or clinical skills since it is the very first time that interprofessional learning and teaching are both involved.” – Trainer, PCP
PCP, being the largest and sole centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of SCI patients in Pakistan, provided an ideal setting for the in-person training. Participants benefited from the expertise of highly skilled rehabilitation professionals at PCP and gained insights into various assistive technologies, some produced at the centre.
“It was an excellent experience not only for the participants, it was also essential for the PCP team, to test their skills and enhance their capacity.” – Ilyas Syed, CEO of Paraplegic Centre Peshawar
The trainers at PCP expressed gratitude for their involvement in this pioneering initiative, which not only benefited the participants but also enhanced their own skills. This training programme is just the beginning. Future initiatives under ReLAB-HS aim to empower rehabilitation professionals in Pakistan, enabling them to be mentors and trainers in their workplaces and communities.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to team PCP and ReLAB-HS for conducting the training session. It was really helpful and informative. I learnt a lot from it. Once again, thank you very much for your effort and selecting us, will learn more in future too” – Shazia Haider, Occupational therapist, DEPD
