Outcome assessment after milieu-oriented rehabilitation: new considerations.
OBJECTIVE
This study incorporated level of functional impairment ratings at program admission into rehabilitation outcome (return to work/school) at the time of program discharge.


OBJECTIVE
(1) Patients and families with better working alliance ratings will show better adjusted outcome; (2) patients seeking compensation will have poorer outcome than those not seeking compensation or receiving benefits; (3) speed of information processing and memory will relate to the level of adjusted outcome.


METHODS
Consecutive neurorehabilitation admissions from March 1992 to May 1996.


METHODS
Outpatient milieu-based interdisciplinary day treatment program.


METHODS
Sixty-four patients with heterogeneous brain injury etiologies.


METHODS
Adjusted outcome, defined as level of discharge productivity adjusted by staff ratings of functional severity of impairment at program admission; work readiness and work eagerness, based on average staff ratings.


RESULTS
At discharge, 89.5% of patients showed fair or good adjusted outcome; 62% were gainfully employed/full-time students; 15.6% resumed preinjury status. Better working alliance predicted better adjusted outcome. Patients seeking compensation showed significantly lower work eagerness ratings. Poorer outcome was associated with better neuropsychological status.


CONCLUSIONS
Efficacy of neurorehabilitation was demonstrated for patients with better working alliance who were not seeking compensation. Adjusted outcome demonstrated greater sensitivity and utility by incorporating the variable of functional severity of impairment at program admission. Inclusion of "process" variables addressing working alliance, motivation, and capacity to work provide important contributions to understanding rehabilitation outcome.
Klonoff
P S
PS
Adult Day Hospital for Neurological Rehabilitation, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Lamb
D G
DG
Henderson
S W
SW
Shepherd
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000592:standards; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000592:standards*