Andorra as a living lab? The inSCI example

Authors

  • Mercè Avellanet Rehabilitation Department Hospital Nostra Sara de Meritxell, Andorra, Spain; Research Group on Health Sciences, Universitat d’Andorra, Andorra, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1574-9906
  • Gerold Stucki Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland; Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems, WHO Collaborating Center, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
  • Esther Pages Rehabilitation Department Hospital Nostra Sara de Meritxell, Andorra, Spain; Research Group on Health Sciences, Universitat d’Andorra, Andorra, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0551-322X
  • Anna Boada-Pladellorens Rehabilitation Department Hospital Nostra Sara de Meritxell, Andorra, Spain; Research Group on Health Sciences, Universitat d’Andorra, Andorra, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4048-3310
  • Christian Grillo Rehabilitation Department Hospital Nostra Sara de Meritxell, Andorra, Spain; Research Group on Health Sciences, Universitat d’Andorra, Andorra, Spain https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8644-3786
  • Juli Minoves-Triquell Rector, Universitat d’Andorra, Andorra, Spain
  • Jerome Bickenbach Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3070-4407

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.44222

Keywords:

Research, health information systems, spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective: In light of the persistent concern identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) that small population countries tend to be ignored in international health research, preventing them from developing research capacity, this paper describes the participation of Andorra in an international spinal cord injury survey (InSCI) and resulting benefits.

Methods: Descriptive analysis of Andorra’s health research situation and participation in InSCI.

Results: Andorra has successfully participated in an international survey improving health research capacity and governmental support.

Conclusion: In line with WHO recommendations to improve small country health research capacity, and specifically to improve their health information collection capacity, the described participation of Andorra in an international health survey demonstrates how this capacity can be improved without sacrificing methodological restrictions.

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References

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Published

2026-03-23

How to Cite

Avellanet, M., Stucki, G., Pages, E., Boada-Pladellorens, A., Grillo, C., Minoves-Triquell, J., & Bickenbach, J. (2026). Andorra as a living lab? The inSCI example. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 58, jrm44222. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.44222

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