Implementation of a municipality-based rehabilitation program for patients with neuritis vestibularis: lessons learned and derived snowball effects

BACKGROUND: Patients with dizziness are severely affected in their daily life. The dizziness may be caused by vestibular neuritis and this condition may be severe and result in hospitalization. Qualified municipal rehabilitation services are warranted for these patients after edischarge from the hospital. However, very few specialized municipal initiatives in Denmark are targeting this patient group.

METHODS: This paper reports on the development of a clinically applicable municipality-based vestibular neuritis rehabilitation program and evaluates the acceptability of this initiative.

RESULTS: The study recognized the need for a rehabilitation program after hospital discharge. However, the program was not evaluated as acceptable for multiple reasons. The exercise program was applicable and feasible but was experienced as a limitation for the practitioner, when addressing other balance issues was needed. It proved challenging to inform both the administrative staff and the clinicians about the new rehabilitation service to allow for sufficient implementation.

CONCLUSION: Although the rehabilitation program was not considered an unequivocal success, there were several derived valuable snowball effects of the program. This paper advocates that focus should not only lie on the success of a single program, but also explore the derived benefits for patients and organizations, as well as the practice-oriented knowledge these programs generate.