Rehabilitation capital: a new form of capital to understand rehabilitation in a Nordic welfare state^*

* The research was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.

ABSTRACT

Social, educational and health related equality is an ideal in the Nordic welfare states. However studies have shown that well-positioned patients achieve better treatment and more services, for example time and examinations, than others do. This article examines how patients and relatives mobilise resources in decision-making in a stroke unit. In particular, it focuses on the challenges in optimising the rehabilitation process faced by patients and relatives, and the strategies they use. Data were generated using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was applied to investigate the patients’ and relatives’ experiences of decision-making. We present a field-specific form of capital: An individual or a family's resources that are valued in the field of rehabilitation as physical, behavioural and cognitively embedded attitudes and practices. Rehabilitation capital consists of four closely interrelated components: Performative Participation (Cognitively Embedded Performance and Self-initiating Activities), Bodily Progression, Institutional Acceptance and Institutional Potential. It is a resource potentially benefitting patients and relatives during inpatient rehabilitation and may provide patients with an advantage, to ensure the best rehabilitation. The possession of Rehabilitation capital (high or low) contributes explanations for unequal practices and treatments at a micro-level in healthcare institutions.

KEYWORDS:

• Bourdieu
• inequality
• providers
• qualitative research
• rehabilitation
• stroke

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are due to all the participants, their families and providers for their important contribution to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

* The research was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by grants from The Danish Health Confederation and Danish Regions [grant number R26-A1033-B888].