InterACT –Interprofessional Approaches for Conflict, Trauma & Torture Survivors
Can physiotherapy enhance physical, mental and social functioning in refugees and other torture survivors? This pilot maps Swiss trauma care models and co-develops a study protocol for integrated trauma rehabilitation.
Factsheet
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Schools involved
School of Health Professions
School of Social Work - Institute(s) Physiotherapy
- Strategic thematic field Thematic field "Caring Society"
- Funding organisation BFH
- Duration (planned) 01.01.2026 - 31.12.2026
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Cornelia Anne Barth
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Project staff
Jessica Meyer
Dr. Claske Dijkema - Partner Schweizer Netzwerk "Support for Torture Victims"
- Keywords culturally sensitive care, displacement, diversity, forced-migration, functioning, gender sensitive care, integrated-care, interprofessional-care, migration, mixed-methods, participatory-research, physiotherapy, psychosocial-care, quality-of-life, peer-support, refugee-health, refugees, rehabilitation, torture-survivors, trauma, trauma-care, trauma-rehabilitation, violence
Situation
Chronic pain, depression, dissociation, social withdrawal and movement limitations are common symptoms after forced migration and violence. Swiss interprofessional care models offer psychosocial and medical support but do not systematically include physiotherapy as a defined core component. Our project explores the role of physiotherapy within integrated care and identifies requirements for its integration into existing care pathways.
Course of action
A participatory multicentre pilot study analyses Swiss models of trauma care with a focus on physiotherapy. Scoping reviews synthesise integrated care for refugees, trauma-informed physiotherapy competencies and relevant psychosocial components. Workshops in French- and German-speaking cantons inform a larger project on integrated trauma rehabilitation. Using mixed methods, we collaborate with stakeholders and affected persons to ensure inclusive design and outcomes.
Looking ahead
The pilot will prepare a larger multi-centre, multi-year and interprofessional study where we test diversity-sensitive combinations of onsite, digital, group and peer formats for feasibility, acceptability, impact and costs.
