title: Evaluation of a nurse-led multidisciplinary neurological rehabilitation programme using the Nottingham Health Profile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain whether or not an inpatient multidisciplinary treatment programme for patients with Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis resulted in a measurable change in patients' health-related quality of life (HRQL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessments of HRQL were made one week before adm ssion and approximately one month post discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six-bed Neurological Rehabilitation Unit at Worthing Hospital on the south coast of England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients with Parkinson's disease and 33 patients with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients received an individually adapted, multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. The programmes lasted from 5 to 10 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRQL scores on the Nottingham Health Profile Part 1 (NHP-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall post-treatment NHP-1 scores were significantly better than overall pretreatment scores for both the Parkinson's group (z= 2.6, p <0.01) and the multiple sclerosis group (z = 2.1, p <0.05). Sixty-four per cent of patients perceived an overall improvement. The strongest improvement was in 'physical mobility' in the multiple sclerosis group (z = 3.0, p <0.01) and in 'emotional reactions' in the Parkinson's group (z = 2.9, p <0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the multidisciplinary inpatient approach in neurological rehabilitation has identifiable short-term benefits for the majority of patients. A randomized trial with longer follow-up is required to confirm this.
authors.affiliation: Worthing Hospital NHS Trust, Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sitzia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haddrell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rice-Oxley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011788:Quality of Life