Are contents of physical therapy in nine Japanese hospitals for inpatients with stroke related to inpatients' and physical therapists' characteristics?

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated the factors that influence activities provided during physical therapy for stroke. [Subjects] Data were collected from 85 physical therapists and 216 inpatients with stroke. [Methods] Time spent on specific functional activities provided to inpatients with stroke was recorded at nine rehabilitation facilities. These were used as dependent variables. Physical therapists' characteristics, including years since acquiring a license, gender, and treatment concepts influencing physical therapy for stroke, were recorded. Inpatients' characteristics, including age, gender, affected side, days post stroke, score on the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and gait ability measured by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM gait), were also recorded. Physical therapists' and inpatients' characteristics were used as independent variables. The t-test, correlation coefficients, and analysis of covariance were used to investigate which independent variables correlated with which dependent variables. [Results] Pre-gait, advanced gait, and community mobility were significantly correlated with mRS and FIM gait (|rs| = 0.32-0.62). Time spent on other functional activities had a weak correlation with inpatients' characteristics. Time spent on functional activities had no or few correlations with physical therapists' characteristics. [Conclusion] Relationships between time spent on specific functional activities and physical therapists' characteristics were weaker than those for inpatients' characteristics. Physical therapy for stroke includes many factors.

Keywords: Physical therapy; Rehabilitation; Stroke.