title: A randomised controlled trial to determine the effect of intensity of therapy upon length of stay in a neurological rehabilitation setting.
abstract: A randomised single-blind controlled trial was designed to determine whether intensity of therapy (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) shortened length of stay for patients in a rehabilitation unit. Patients were under 65, primarily with stroke, but also with other conditions such as traumatic brain injury, and multiple sclerosis. The experimental group were timetabled to receive 67% more therapy in any given week, than the control group. After controlling for confounders and case mix (as expressed by type of therapy required) patients in the experimental group showed a significant 14-day reduction in length of stay (<0.01). Concurrently average length of stay was increased for both groups by 16 days due to delays in discharge.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Musculo-skeletal and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.forename: M Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome