Informal Professional Communication of Rehabilitation Specialists and its Significance for their Practical Activities

Aim: To investigate the scope, forms and activeness of informal professional communication of rehabilitation specialists using information and communication channels and its significance for their practical activities. Materials and Methods: The following methods were used during the research: sociological; statistical; structural and logical analysis; generalization. Copies of the author’s original sociological survey questionnaire were used as research materials. Results: The analysis of the results of survey revealed that absolutely all interviewed rehabilitation specialists consider it useful to create virtual groups for professional communication with colleagues in the field of rehabilitation through modern information and communication channels. 44.9±3.7% of respondents recognized themselves as passive participants of such groups. But 98.9±0.8% of the survey participants consider the information received in such communication groups to be useful for professional clinical activities in the field of rehabilitation. It was determined that the issues of correct preparation of documentation when providing services under the packages of the National Health Service of Ukraine (78.7±3.1%) and the problems of organizing the provision of rehabilitation services in health care facilities (74.2±3,3) were discussed most often in the groups. Conclusions: The development of virtual professional communities of rehabilitation specialists helps them to exchange information and improve their knowledge in matters of organizing the provision of rehabilitation services in health care institutions and processing documentation. Provided that the facilitation of communication topics of professional groups is established, it is possible to improve their functioning and attract more specialists to active participation.