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R9. Evaluation of Therapy Effectiveness and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Outpatient Settings for Persons with Stroke
A variety of levels and types of post-acute services have been developed for the specific needs of persons with stroke. However, no systematic investigation has examined the rate and extent of functional gains achieved in outpatient settings, including single modality and comprehensive outpatient programs. The aims of this project are: 1) to describe the initial status and course of improvement of persons in two post-acute rehabilitation settings: outpatient and Day Rehabilitation programs; 2) to describe the type, intensity and duration of therapy provided in each program; and 3) to relate the therapy provided to short- and long-term improvement. Therapy notes and administrative records are abstracted to provide some of the information. In addition several instruments measuring quality of life are administered at admission and discharge from post-acute rehabilitation and three months after discharge to provide other information.
An examination of patient goals is incorporated in two of the specific objectives of this project. In one objective, goals set by the persons with stroke and their families are compared to the goals set by the therapist. Therapy goals are also compared to the deficits identified during the initial evaluation to determine whether therapists take both sources of information into account when setting therapy goals. In another objective, an instrument designed to measure post-rehabilitation activity level has been modified to examine personal goals and the importance to the person with stroke of regaining their prior activity level in the specific activities included in the instrument.
Publications:Heinemann, A. & Bode, R. Reconceptualizing post-stroke activity level as measured by the Frenchay Activities Index. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, in press.