Posts Tagged neurological impairment

[ARTICLE] Comparison of Rehabilitation Outcomes for Long Term Neurological Conditions: A Cohort Analysis of the Australian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre Dataset for Adults of Working Age – Full Text HTML

Fig 2.  Radar Charts (FIM-Splats) showing median FIM scores on admission and discharge for the 12 groups.Abstract

Objective

To describe and compare outcomes from in-patient rehabilitation (IPR) in working-aged adults across different groups of long-term neurological conditions, as defined by the UK National Service Framework.

Design

Analysis of a large Australian prospectively collected dataset for completed IPR episodes (n = 28,596) from 2003-2012.

Methods

De-identified data for adults (16–65 years) with specified neurological impairment codes were extracted, cleaned and divided into ‘Sudden-onset’ conditions: (Stroke (n = 12527), brain injury (n = 7565), spinal cord injury (SCI) (n = 3753), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (n = 805)) and ‘Progressive/stable’ conditions (Progressive (n = 3750) and Cerebral palsy (n = 196)). Key outcomes included Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, length of stay (LOS), and discharge destination.

Results

Mean LOS ranged from 21–57 days with significant group differences in gender, source of admission and discharge destination. All six groups showed significant change (p<0.001) between admission and discharge that was likely to be clinically important across a range of items. Significant between-group differences were observed for FIM Motor and Cognitive change scores (Kruskal-Wallis p<0.001), and item-by-item analysis confirmed distinct patterns for each of the six groups. SCI and GBS patients were generally at the ceiling of the cognitive subscale. The ‘Progressive/stable’ conditions made smaller improvements in FIM score than the ‘Sudden-onset conditions’, but also had shorter LOS.

Conclusion

All groups made gains in independence during admission, although pattern of change varied between conditions, and ceiling effects were observed in the FIM-cognitive subscale. Relative cost-efficiency between groups can only be indirectly inferred. Limitations of the current dataset are discussed, together with opportunities for expansion and further development.

Continue —>  PLOS ONE: Comparison of Rehabilitation Outcomes for Long Term Neurological Conditions: A Cohort Analysis of the Australian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre Dataset for Adults of Working Age.

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[ARTICLE] A randomized clinical trial to determine effectiveness of driving simulator retraining on the driving performance of clients with neurological impairment

Abstract

Introduction Following a neurological event, returning to driving is an important activity contributing to improved participation within the community. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of driving simulator retraining on driving in clients with neurological impairment and to examine factors associated with treatment effectiveness.

Method Individuals with non-degenerative brain injury were randomized to either a simulator training or control group. The simulator group received individualized training (16 sessions) using a driving simulator. The control group did not receive intervention. A blind evaluator assessed participants on the DriveAble On-Road Driving Evaluation.

Results There was no significant difference between groups in the proportion of individuals who passed the driving evaluation (Chi2 = 0.65; p = 0.42; CI = −0.41 to +0.17). However, participants with moderate impairment who received simulator training were more likely to pass the driving test compared with those in the control group (86% versus 17%; Chi2 = 6.2; p = 0.03; CI = −1.00 to −0.30). There were no differences in pass rate according to diagnosis, gender, or for those with severe impairments.

Conclusion Results provide clinicians with preliminary information on the potential clinical usefulness of driving simulator training. While the findings do not support simulator retraining for the group as a whole, they suggest that clients with moderate impairment have the potential to benefit.

via A randomized clinical trial to determine effectiveness of driving simulator retraining on the driving performance of clients with neurological impairment.

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