The Early Functional Abilities (EFA) scale to assess neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.
BACKGROUND
It is difficult to assess neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients comprehensively. Available scales focus on activities of daily living (Barthel (BI) and Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI)) or wakefulness (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Coma Remission Scale (CRS)) while cognitive items are missing.


METHODS
The Early Functional Abilities (EFA) scale comprises 20 items referring to activities of daily living (ADL), wakefulness and cognitive abilities. To evaluate its validity, n = 623 early neurological and neurosurgical rehabilitation patients (most of them after ischemic stroke or cerebral bleeding) were assessed on admission using the EFA, ERBI, GCS, CRS and measures of morbidity (co-diagnoses).


RESULTS
The more co-diagnoses the lower EFA sum scores were obtained (Spearman-Rho rs = -0.509, p < 0.001). EFA predicted length of stay (LOS, rs = -0.565, p < 0.001) and BI at discharge (rs = 0.571, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that EFA is a valid instrument to assess critically ill neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients. It may be used as a measure of morbidity and a predictor of LOS and outcome. Further studies are strongly encouraged.
Institute for Neurorehabilitation Research (InFo), BDH Clinic Hessisch Oldendorf, Teaching Hospital of Hannover Medical School (MHH), Greitstr. 18-28, 31840, Hessisch Oldendorf, Germany. arianehankemeier@yahoo.de.
Ariane
A
Hankemeier
Institute for Neurorehabilitation Research (InFo), BDH Clinic Hessisch Oldendorf, Teaching Hospital of Hannover Medical School (MHH), Greitstr. 18-28, 31840, Hessisch Oldendorf, Germany. prof.rollnik@bdh-klinik-hessisch-oldendorf.de.
Jens D
JD
Rollnik
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*