[Comparison of activities of daily living for a convalescent rehabilitation ward and general ward for stroke patients]

Abstract

We investigated changes in the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) of stroke patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward and a general ward using a Functional Independent Measure (FIM). The subjects were 109 patients hospitalized for rehabilitation purposes at the Oyamada Memorial Spa Hospital. The change in FIM at the time of hospitalization and that at 1 week later was investigated in 81 patients in the convalescent rehabilitation group (CRG) and 28 patients in the control group (CG). In addition, the CRG was investigated again after one month. Intensive rehabilitation service based on ADL and worksheets was introduced in the CRG. On the other hand, these were not introduced in the CG. The total score of FIM increased significantly (p<0.01) in the first week after hospitalization in both groups. The FIM-gain after one week in the CRG was high. With regard to each item, a significant improvement was observed in patients' motor skills while eating, grooming, bathing, dressing the upper body, dressing the lower body, toilet, bladder management, transfer bed/chair, toilet and tub, and walking/wheelchair (11/13). Multiple regressions were used to assess the relationships between FIM-gain (one week, one month), age, rehabilitation intensity and other predictive variables. Better rehabilitation outcomes were observed in patients with lower level of dementia and high rehabilitation intensity. It was thought that planned rehabilitation based on ADL was effective in the CRG, and it was suggested that the CRG's system is effective in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.