Developing a rehabilitation intervention difficulty index: A mixed-methods study using NASA-TLX and Borg RPE in a tertiary clinical setting

RIDI showed acceptable reliability and preliminary evidence of construct validity as a therapist-reported measure of rehabilitation difficulty that captures both cognitive/affective and physiological aspects of workload. Variation in RIDI scores across clinical areas and interventions was consistent with meaningful differences in perceived difficulty. The under-representation of coping strategies in high-RIDI contexts suggests that high rehabilitation difficulty may require structural and organisational responses-such as staffing, workflow redesign, and environmental modifications-rather than relying primarily on individual coping. RIDI may provide a practical tool for identifying high-demand areas, informing workforce planning, and targeting support where it is most needed.