title: Statistical process control: A feasibility study of the application of time-series measurement in early neurorehabilitation after acquired brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Progress in early cognitive recovery after acquired brain injury is uneven and unpredictable, and thus the evaluation of rehabilitation is complex. The use of time-series measurements is susceptible to statistical change due to process variation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of using a time-series method, statistical process control, in early cognitive rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 27 patients with acquired brain injury undergoing interdisciplinary rehabilitation of attention within 4 months post-injury. The outcome measure, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, was analysed using statistical process control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical process control identifies if and when change occurs in the process according to 3 patterns: rapid, steady or stationary performers. The statistical process control method was adjusted, in terms of constructing the baseline and the total number of measurement points, in order to measure a process in change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistical process control methodology is feasible for use in early cognitive rehabilitation, since it provides information about change in a process, thus enabling adjustment of the individual treatment response. Together with the results indicating discernible subgroups that respond differently to rehabilitation, statistical process control could be a valid tool in clinical decision-making. This study is a starting-point in understanding the rehabilitation process using a real-time-measurements approach.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, 182 88 Stockholm, Sweden. gabriela.markovic@ds.se, gabriela.markovic@sll.se.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schult
authors.forename: Aniko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartfai
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*