title: Five-year retrospective study of inpatient occupational therapy outcomes for patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was a retrospective chart analysis spanning 5 yr that investigated associations between occupational therapy interventions and goal-based positive outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders at discharge in an urban inpatient rehabilitation setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using descriptive statistics, we examined demographic characteristics in the first analysis phase. In the second phase, we performed a series of correlational analyses to identify treatment variables associated with positive outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generally, patients improved in their FIM scores at discharge. Increasing occupational therapy intensity had a positive effect on functional performance in all categories except feeding, with significant correlations in upper-extremity dressing (r = .153, p < .05) and memory (r = .204, p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational therapy was associated with positive functional outcomes for patients with MS. Future treatment protocols should include cognitive skills training, community reintegration, and self-care, because these treatments were found to be significantly correlated with positive changes in FIM scores.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina, Suite 1011, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Kinsuk_Maitra@rush.edu
authors.forename: Kinsuk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maitra
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalish
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dugan
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehak
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamas
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeitlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult