Healthcare Resilience and Patient Adherence in Rehabilitation

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 188

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Physiotherapy, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: technological innovation; physiotherapy; disability; inclusive education; telerehabilitation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In contemporary health sciences, and especially within the complex field of rehabilitation, patient resilience and adherence are fundamental. There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence indicating that resilience, the ability to adapt and recover from adversity, is key to achieving optimal health outcomes, both for individual patients and healthcare systems. Patients engaged in rehabilitation frequently encounter enduring physical limitations (e.g., post‐stroke motor deficits), psychological strain (e.g., depression, anxiety), and societal obstacles (e.g., access barriers and social isolation). Empirical studies employing validated resilience scales report that higher individual resilience scores correlate with improved self-management behaviors, reduced dropout rates, and accelerated recovery trajectories. Simultaneously, interventions targeting adherence, such as motivational interviewing, mobile health reminders, and remote monitoring, have yielded adherence improvements. By connecting these two vital areas, research suggests that resilient individuals tend to exhibit higher adherence rates, pointing towards a potent, synergistic relationship that merits comprehensive exploration.

We are seeking submissions exploring innovative approaches to healthcare resilience and patient adherence in rehabilitation. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of resilience-building models and adherence in rehabilitation settings.
  • Validation studies of interventions designed to enhance patient adherence (e.g., motivational interviewing, mobile reminders, and gamified exercise platforms).
  • Behavioral interventions aimed at enhancing patient adherence during and after inpatient rehabilitation.
  • The impact of tele-rehabilitation and mobile health technologies on resilience and adherence.
  • Comparative studies of adherence rates across different rehabilitation disciplines and demographics.
  • Qualitative research on patient and provider perspectives of resilience and engagement.
  • Policy analyses examining system-level factors that support resilient rehabilitation services.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Prof. Dr. María-Dolores Cortés-Vega
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • healthcare resilience
  • patient adherence
  • innovative strategies
  • rehabilitation
  • cost-effectiveness
  • sociocultural factors

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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19 pages, 2392 KB  
Systematic Review
Identifying Key Factors in Adherence and Dropouts in Active Physiotherapy in Children with Acute Leukemia: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression
by Laura Ramírez-Pérez and Noelia Moreno-Morales
Healthcare 2025, 13(21), 2766; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212766 - 30 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adherence to active physiotherapy programs in children suffering from cancer is essential to enhance the improvement generated by the treatment. Therefore, the main aim of this review was to identify the factors influencing adherence and dropout rates in exercise programs applied [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adherence to active physiotherapy programs in children suffering from cancer is essential to enhance the improvement generated by the treatment. Therefore, the main aim of this review was to identify the factors influencing adherence and dropout rates in exercise programs applied to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression was conducted. The search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and PEDro databases. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials focusing on determining adherence in active physiotherapy programs compared to standard care. A meta-synthesis was performed together with a random-effects meta-analysis. Furthermore, a proportion meta-analysis was developed, dividing by exercise modality, and a multivariate regression was performed to determine what factors were able to moderate the dropout rates. Results: Thirteen studies were selected, including 654 patients. Of them, 8 studies opt for multicomponent exercise, 3 used strength, and 2 selected virtual reality-based treatment. Overall, dropout rates were similar between groups. However, dropout proportions varied by intervention type, with minor attritions in strength (8.6%) and exergaming interventions (8.7%) compared to multicomponent exercise programs (18.4%). Meta-regression did not identify statistically significant moderators of dropouts. Conclusions: The heterogeneity of the studies in this target population meant that no factor could be identified as a moderator of dropouts, but exercise modality stands out as a potential moderator of adherence. Therefore, future studies should develop and test adherence-enhancing strategies to facilitate clinical implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthcare Resilience and Patient Adherence in Rehabilitation)
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