The FIM™ as a measure of change in function after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation: a Canadian perspective.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the FIM™ as an outcome measure at follow-up following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of the National Rehabilitation Reporting System (NRS) data from 13 facilities across Canada that collected follow-up data between 2001 and 2006. The study sample included all NRS records with a hospital length of stay of at least 3 days, for individuals 18 years and older. Outcomes included: mean total, motor and cognitive FIM™ scores at admission, discharge, and follow-up; change in FIM™ scores from admission to discharge and from discharge to follow-up; correlation between FIM™ scores at admission, discharge and follow-up, and predictors of the change in FIM™ scores between discharge and follow-up.


RESULTS
The majority of the change in FIM™ scores is seen between admission and discharge with the higher FIM scores maintained, if not increased slightly, between discharge and follow-up. Discharge and follow-up total FIM™ scores are highly correlated indicating that collection of the follow-up FIM™ may not provide additional information that justifies the expense of data collection after a patient has been discharged from inpatient rehabilitation.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of more appropriate rehabilitation follow-up outcomes needs to be considered.
Passalent
Laura A
LA
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Tyas
Jeanette E
JE
Jaglal
Susan B
SB
Cott
Cheryl A
CA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult