title: Functional and self-efficacy changes of patients admitted to a Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Geriatric Rehabilitation Units (GRUs) have been established to restore functional abilities of older hospitalized patients. Although considerable health care resources have been allocated to these units, few outcome-based research studies have been reported on Canadian GRUs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to report a study examining the effect of admission to a GRU on changes in patients' functional ability and self-efficacy in performing everyday activities at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following Institutional Review Board approval, data were collected from 40 patients age 65-101 years (mean 83.8, sd 6.57) admitted to a 21-bed interdisciplinary GRUs over a 7-month period. All were living independently prior to hospital admission. Data were collected on admission to the unit and on discharge using two instruments: the Functional Independence Measure and Falls Efficacy Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements were found in functional ability and self-efficacy following admission to the GRUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although functional level and feelings of self-efficacy on admission to the unit were at levels which may have prevented participants from returning home, the majority were discharged to the community. Results suggest that admission to a GRU helps prepare patients to return to community living.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. rmcclosk@unbsj.ca
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCloskey
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000523:psychology*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000592:standards; D020377:Self Efficacy