Nursing and Rehabilitation for Patients with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities

Dear Colleagues,

Comorbidities commonly associated with chronic diseases often result in functional, emotional, and social limitations. These challenges require ongoing symptom management and careful attention to their effects on both patients and informal caregivers.

The complex nature of chronic conditions demands a holistic, person-centered, and sustainable approach to care that addresses not only health needs but also the social, psychological, and community dimensions of health, focusing on human responses to changes in physiological, functional, psychosocial, and transitional processes.

With this special edition, our goal is to contribute to Goal 3 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

We seek to promote research and discussions that support more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive health responses. We are interested in studies and interventions that explore innovative care models—implemented in hospital settings, community contexts, or public health systems—that improve the quality of life of people living with chronic diseases.

We welcome articles that emphasize patient-centered approaches, the integration of health services, and the active involvement of family and informal caregivers. Special attention should be given to individuals undergoing transitions between health and illness, those adapting to the management of chronic diseases, and those involved in rehabilitation processes. By highlighting the interconnection between clinical practice, social support, and sustainability, this Special Issue aims to promote health strategies that are both effective and compassionate.

Ultimately, we intend to foster knowledge and practices that empower patients, strengthen support networks for caregivers, and contribute to the development of resilient health systems. Through collaborative and evidence-based contributions, we hope to inspire progress towards a more inclusive and sustainable future for rehabilitation care in the context of chronic and disabling diseases, as well as for global health in general.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: (see keywords).

Prof. Dr. Luís Sousa
Prof. Dr. Christoph De Oliveira Käppler
Dr. Fabiana Faleiros
Dr. Helena José
Guest Editors

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