title: Rehabilitation experts' experience of community rehabilitation services for stroke survivors in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Successful stroke rehabilitation is a complex process involving teamwork by members of several professions. The aims of this study were to explore the experiences of Iranian rehabilitation experts concerning community rehabilitation services for stroke survivors and obtain their opinions on how to further develop and improve these services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative research method with grounded theory was used, including purposive and theoretical sampling. A constant comparative analysis was conducted. Data were gathered from 2 focus group discussions including 10 Iranian rehabilitation experts and 4 in-depth individual interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonintegrated rehabilitation services emerged as the core concept of the study. The explored concepts were identified as deficiently allocated budget, inadequate public insurance, lack of availability of rehabilitative care, negative public opinion, lack of consistency in care, and split services and professional separation. Areas identified for potential improvement included need to change policymakers' attitudes, need to refine rehabilitation in the health care system, need to establish a registration system, need to provide information and skills, and need to see the family as a whole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experts should participate in educational rehabilitation programs to become more aware of current rehabilitation services within the community. Stroke survivors and their families should also participate in the rehabilitation programs as this would allow them to gain knowledge and skills for dealing with stroke management. This can help reduce problems, change public opinion, and eliminate mistrust between health care providers and families.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Nursing Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalvandi
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khankeh
authors.forename: Sadat Seyed Bagher
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Maddah
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D011639:Public Opinion; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors