Patterns of therapy activities across length of stay and impairment levels: peering inside the "black box" of inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To classify therapy activities and to describe the type and pattern of activities provided during inpatient rehabilitation to persons with stroke.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Eight acute and 5 subacute rehabilitation facilities across the United States.


METHODS
Persons with stroke (N=177) who received rehabilitation services and had lengths of stay (LOSs) between 2 and 5 weeks.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Weekly and total therapy units aggregated by discipline and activity type for each of 4 (2-wk, 3-wk, 4-wk, 5-wk) LOS groups.


RESULTS
Across LOS groups, significant differences in total therapy units were found by week of rehabilitation, discipline, and therapy activity type. Patterns in and significant interactions of time and activity type by discipline were also found. The amount of therapy provided by occupational and physical therapists was significantly more than that provided by speech-language pathologists.


CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of time spent in therapy are similar for all LOS groups, but type of therapy received reflects a complex interaction of patient severity, rehabilitation discipline, and LOS.
Bode
Rita K
RK
Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, IL 60611, USA. r-bode@northwestern.edu
Heinemann
Allen W
AW
Semik
Patrick
P
Mallinson
Trudy
T
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States