title: The effect on physical performance of a functional assessment and immediate rehabilitation of acutely admitted elderly patients with reduced functional performance: the design of a randomised clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Illness and hospitalisation, even of short duration, pose separate risks for permanently reduced functional performance in elderly medical patients. Functional assessment in the acute pathway will ensure early detection of declining performance and form the basis for mobilisation during hospitalisation and subsequent rehabilitation. For optimal results rehabilitation should begin immediately after discharge.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a systematic functional assessment in the emergency department (ED) of elderly medical patients with reduced functional performance when combined with immediate postdischarge rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a two-way factorial randomised clinical trial. Participants will be recruited among patients admitted to the ED who are above 65 years of age with reduced functional performance. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) functional assessment and immediate rehabilitation; (2) functional assessment and rehabilitation as usual; (3) assessment as usual and immediate rehabilitation; (4) assessment and rehabilitation as usual.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 s chair-stand test administered at admission and 3 weeks after discharge.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study has been approved by the Regional Scientific Ethical Committees of Southern Denmark in February 2014. The study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02062541.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Kolding Hospital, a part of Hospital Lillebaelt, Kolding, Denmark.
authors.forename: Inge Hansen
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Bruun
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nørgaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark MarselisborgCentret, Danish Rehabilitation Research Center, Aarhus, Denmark National Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maribo
authors.affiliation: Spine Centre of Southern Denmark, Middelfart Hospital, a part of Hospital Lillebaelt, Middelfart, Denmark Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark.
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schiøttz-Christensen
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Aabenraa Hospital, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Aabenraa, Denmark Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian Backer
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mogensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY MEDICINE; PRIMARY CARE; REHABILITATION MEDICINE