Abstract
Background and aim
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death, physical disability, and economic burden.
Nowadays, various types of rehabilitation are available. Rehabilitation centers in
Thailand provide services in different ways, including starting time, duration, and
frequency of each therapy. In addition, many rehabilitation wards have a standing
policy to reduce length of stay (LOS) due to economic considerations. This study aimed
to compare the effectiveness and efficiency between intensive and nonintensive rehabilitation
protocol for stroke patients.
Methods
This prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted among stroke patients who
admitted to rehabilitation wards at 14 centers. All participants received either intensive
or non-intensive rehabilitation program. Barthel Index (BI) at admission (BIad), BI
at discharge (BIdc), and LOS were recorded. The effectiveness was difference in BIdc
and BIad score (ΔBI), and the efficiency was ΔBI divided by LOS (ΔBI/LOS).
Results
Seven hundred and eighty stroke patients were included. Mean age was 61.9 ± 13.3 years,
and 59.7% were male. The majority of patients (79.5%) were admitted for intensive
rehabilitation. Effectiveness and efficiency were significantly higher in the intensive
group than in the nonintensive group (4.5 ± 3.4 versus 2.6 ± 3.2 and .24 ± .30 versus
.18 ± .33, respectively). LOS, intensive rehabilitation, and quality of life were
significantly positively correlated with effectiveness; whereas, age, onset to admission
interval (OAI), and BIad were significantly negatively correlated with the effectiveness
of stroke rehabilitation.
Conclusions
Stroke patients admitted for intensive rehabilitation had better effectiveness and
efficiency than those admitted for non-intensive rehabilitation. Younger patients
with shorter OAI, lower BIad, and longer LOS realized significantly enhanced effectiveness.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 18, 2020
Accepted:
March 4,
2020
Received in revised form:
February 15,
2020
Received:
December 18,
2019
Footnotes
Funding: This study was funded by a grant from the Royal College of Physiatrists of Thailand (grant no. 001/2012).
Identification
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104809
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
