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. 2011 Sep;17(9):CR510-6.
doi: 10.12659/msm.881938.

An evaluation of the strategic approach to the rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients

Wiesław Tomaszewski  1 , Grzegorz Mańko
Affiliations

An evaluation of the strategic approach to the rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients

Wiesław Tomaszewski et al. Med Sci Monit. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

Background: The objective of our study was to evaluate a goal-driven strategic plan for the step-by-step rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, with effectiveness measured in terms of quality of life, as compared to patients treated according to a standard, progressive rehabilitation program.

Material/methods: We studied 40 patients after TBI awakened from a long-term coma. The patients were divided into two equal groups: a control group (n=20) involving patients treated before the introduction of the strategic approach, and an experimental group (n=20) involving patients rehabilitated under the strategic approach. In evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation we used a structured interview with clinical observation and a scale for assessing the quality of life of patients after TBI.

Results: The deterioration in the quality of life of TBI patients is mainly related to difficulties in satisfying physiological needs, self-care, reduced mobility and disorders of cognitive, regulatory, and social functions. In both groups, the feature most susceptible to rehabilitation related change was movement, while the least susceptible functions were associated with the use of different means of transport. This change is significantly greater in persons in the experimental group, as compared to controls.

Conclusions: We found that a rehabilitation program controlled by a strategic plan, with the cooperation of the patient, is more effective in improving the quality of life, as the patient is more self-motivated to individually designed objectives.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average results obtained in Test I and II by patients with control group in the individual terms of quality of life assessment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The average results obtained in (I) and (II) examination by the patients of the experimental group in the individual terms of quality of life assessment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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