title: Effects of a short-term occupational therapy intervention in an acute geriatric unit. A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the benefits of a short-term occupational therapy intervention (OTI) when added to the conventional treatment model (CTM) in the functional recovery of patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit (AGU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-pharmacological randomized clinical trial. 400 patients were randomized to OTI (n = 198) or CTM (n = 202) group. Mean age 83.5. Interventions included needs assessment, iatrogenic prevention, retraining in activities of daily living, and instructions for caregivers in three groups of patients defined a priori (cardiopulmonary disease, stroke, other conditions) 5 days a week, 30-45 min a day.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recovery of ≥ 10 Barthel index points by discharge. Secondary outcome was the reduction in confusional episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adjusted relative risk (RR) of functional recovery in the OTI group was 1.16 (95%CI 0.91-1.47). In participants with cardiopulmonary disease was 1.57 (95%CI 1.06-2.32), number needed to treat (NNT) 5. Participants with other conditions assigned to OTI had a reduction in acute confusional episodes; RR 0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.87), NNT 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although overall there were no significant differences, patients with cardiopulmonary disease or non-stroke pathologies admitted to an AGU, may benefit from a short-term OTI.
authors: Geriatrics Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain. pabizanda@sescam.jccm.es
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Abizanda
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: León
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Domínguez-Martín
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Lozano-Berrio
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Romero
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Luengo
authors: Pedro M
authors: PM
authors: Sánchez-Jurado
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Martín-Sebastiá