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Area of Research Focus
The area of research focus behind the Quebec Rehabilitation Research Network (REPAR) was defined in the spring of 1996 by its Scientific Council and Board of Directors. The conceptual model, the Handicaps Creation Process (outlined below), put forth by the Canadian Society for the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (CSICIDH 1996) is the foundation upon which the definition of REPAR’s area of research focus is built.
Definitions of the model’s dimensions
Risk factors: A risk factor is an element, either inherent to an individual or coming from the environment that is likely to cause disease, trauma or any other affliction to an individual or development of an individual.
Personal factors: A personal factor is a personal characteristic such as age, gender, socio-cultural identity, organic systems, skills, etc.
Environmental factors: An environmental factor is a social or physical dimension that defines the organization and framework of a society.
Life habits: A life habit is a daily activity or a social role enriched by the socio-cultural context for an individual as per his/her characteristics (age, gender, socio-cultural identity, etc.). Life habits ensure a person’s survival and fulfillment in a society throughout the person’s life.
Area's of research
HUMAN RESEARCH can be categorized into one of the following four dimensions of the conceptual model:
IMPAIRMENTS
DISABILITIES
OBSTACLES
HANDICAP SITUATIONS
as well as the relationships between these various dimensions.
Primary impairments at the root of disabilities and handicap situations must fall into the following categories:
MUSCULOSKELETAL
NEUROLOGICAL OR
SENSORY
Multidisciplinary projects conducted in cooperation with clinical settings are preferred.
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH IS EXCLUDED.
The area of research focus presented here is based on the CSICIDH conceptual model and ultimately aims at improving the social integration of people with disabilities. It does not exclude research on impairments that are at the root of problems related to social integration. However, it does exclude research based on pure primary prevention, meaning events likely to cause impairments. In other words, REPAR’s area of research focus does not incorporate the “risk factor” dimension represented at the top of the CSICIDH model. Environmental factors are nonetheless included when they define handicap situations (right most side of the CSICIDH model). Lastly, REPAR has decided to focus on human research, excluding animal research and research on isolated tissue and organ research.
The Scientific Council
April 30, 1997
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