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How is the audit of therapy intensity influencing rehabilitation in inpatient stroke units in the UK? An ethnographic study.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy are central to rehabilitation after a stroke. The UK has introduced an audited performance target: that 45?min of each therapy should be provided to patients deemed appropriate. We sought to understand how this has influenced delivery of stroke unit therapy. DESIGN:Ethnographic study, including observation and interviews. The theoretical framework drew on the work of Lipsky and Power, framing therapists as 'street level bureaucrats' in an 'audit society'. SETTING:Stroke units in three English hospitals. PARTICIPANTS:Forty-three participants were interviewed, including patients, therapists and other staff. RESULTS:There was wide variation in how therapy time was recorded and in decision-making regarding which patients were 'appropriate for therapy' or auditable. Therapists interpreted their roles differently in each stroke unit. Therapists doubted the validity of the audit results and did not believe their results reflected the quality of services they provided. Some assumed their audit results would inform commissioning decisions. Senior therapy leaders shaped priorities and practices in each therapy team. Patients were inactive outside therapy sessions. Patients differed regarding the quantity of therapy they felt they needed but consistently wanted to be more involved in decisions and treated as individuals.

SUBMITTER: Taylor E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6303655 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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How is the audit of therapy intensity influencing rehabilitation in inpatient stroke units in the UK? An ethnographic study.

Taylor Elizabeth E Jones Fiona F McKevitt Christopher C

BMJ open 20181214 12

<h4>Objectives</h4>Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy are central to rehabilitation after a stroke. The UK has introduced an audited performance target: that 45 min of each therapy should be provided to patients deemed appropriate. We sought to understand how this has influenced delivery of stroke unit therapy.<h4>Design</h4>Ethnographic study, including observation and interviews. The theoretical framework drew on the work of Lipsky and Power, framing therapists ...[more]

PMID: 30552266

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Project description:Background and Purpose- Therapeutic strategies that capitalize on the intrinsic capacity for neurological recovery early poststroke to improve locomotion are uncertain. Emerging data suggest that task-specific stepping practice provided at higher cardiovascular intensities may be critical dosage parameters that could maximize locomotor recovery. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the comparative effectiveness of providing high-intensity training on locomotor capacity early poststroke as compared with usual care. Methods- A quasi-experimental design was used to compare changes in stepping activity (StepWatch), walking, and balance outcomes during usual care (n=56) versus high-intensity stepping intervention (n=54) in inpatient stroke patients. Primary outcomes assessed weekly included self-selected and fastest gait speed, 6-minute walk test, and the Berg Balance Scale, with secondary outcomes of Swedish Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke-Norwegian version, Functional Ambulation Category, 30-s sit-to-stand, strength (average manual muscle testing), and Barthel Index. Regression analyses identified relationships between demographics, baseline function, and training activities (steps per day; duration achieved, 70%-85% maximum heart rates) and primary outcomes at discharge. Results- Following implementation of high-intensity stepping, average steps per day (5777±2784) were significantly greater than during usual care (3917±2656; P<0.001). Statistically different and clinically meaningful changes in self-selected speed (0.39±0.28 versus 0.16±0.26 m/s) and fastest gait speed (0.47±0.41 versus 0.17±0.38 m/s; both P<0.001) were observed following high-intensity interventions versus usual care and at every assessment throughout the length of stay. Changes in Berg Balance Scale and 6-minute walk test were also statistically and clinically different between groups, while secondary measures of Functional Ambulation Category and strength were also different at discharge. Primary predictors of improved walking capacity were steps per day, baseline impairments, and age. Conclusions- Provision of high-intensity stepping training applied during inpatient rehabilitation resulted in significantly greater walking and balance outcomes. This training paradigm should be further tested in other contexts to determine the generalizability to real-world and community settings.

Project description:BackgroundLittle is known about the rate of real-world inpatient rehabilitation therapy (IRT) after stroke. We aimed to determine the rate of inpatient rehabilitation therapy and its associated factors in patients who undergo reperfusion therapy in China.MethodsThis national prospective registry study included hospitalized ischemic stroke patients aged 14-99 years with reperfusion therapy between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, collecting hospital-level and patient-level demographic and clinical data. IRT included acupuncture or massage, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and others. The primary outcome was the rate of patients receiving IRT.ResultsWe included 209,189 eligible patients from 2191 hospitals. The median age was 66 years, and 64.2% were men. Four in five patients received only thrombolysis, and the rest 19.2% underwent endovascular therapy. The overall rate of IRT was 58.2% (95% CI, 58.0-58.5%). Differences in demographic and clinical variables existed between patients with and without IRT. The rates of acupuncture or massage, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other rehabilitation interventions were 38.0%, 28.8%, 11.8%, 14.4%, and 22.9%, respectively. The rates of single and multimodal interventions were 28.3% and 30.0%, respectively. A lower likelihood of receiving IRT was associated with being 14-50 or 76-99 years old, female, from Northeast China, from Class-C hospitals, receiving only thrombolysis, having severe stroke or severe deterioration, a short length of stay, Covid-19 pandemic and having intracranial or gastrointestinal hemorrhage.ConclusionAmong our patient population, the IRT rate was low with limited use of physical therapy, multimodal interventions, and rehabilitation centers and varied by demographic and clinical features. The implementation of IRT remains a challenge for stroke care, warranting urgent and effective national programs to enhance post-stroke rehabilitation and the adherence to guidelines.

Project description:Objective: It was the aim to assess feasibility, safety, and potential efficacy of a new intensive, focused arm-hand BOOST program and to investigate whether there is a difference between early vs. late delivery of the program in the sub-acute phase post stroke. Methods: In this pilot RCT, patients with stroke were randomized to the immediate group (IG): 4 weeks (4 w) BOOST +4 w CONTROL or the delayed group (DG): 4 w CONTROL +4 w BOOST, on top of their usual inpatient care program. The focused arm-hand BOOST program (1 h/day, 5x/week, 4 weeks) consisted of group exercises with focus on scapula-setting, core-stability, manipulation and complex ADL tasks. Additionally, 1 h per week the Armeo®Power (Hocoma AG, Switzerland) was used. The CONTROL intervention comprised a dose-matched program (24 one-hour sessions in 4 w) of lower limb strengthening exercises and general reconditioning. At baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of training, the Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity (FMA-UE), action research arm test (ARAT), and stroke upper limb capacity scale (SULCS) were administered. Results: Eighteen participants (IG: n = 10, DG: n = 8) were included, with a median (IQR) time post stroke of 8.6 weeks (5-12). No adverse events were experienced. After 4 weeks of training, significant between-group differences were found for FMA-UE (p = 0.003) and SULCS (p = 0.033) and a trend for ARAT (p = 0.075) with median (IQR) change scores for the IG of 9 (7-16), 2 (1-3), and 12.5 (1-18), respectively, and for the DG of 0.5 (-3 to 3), 1 (0-1), and 1.5 (-1 to 9), respectively. In the IG, 80% of patients improved beyond the minimal clinical important difference of FMA-UE after 4 weeks, compared to none of the DG patients. Between 4 and 8 weeks of training, patients in the DG tend to show larger improvements when compared to the IG, however, between-group comparisons did not reach significance. Conclusions: Results of this pilot RCT showed that an intensive, specific arm-hand BOOST program, on top of usual care, is feasible and safe in the sub-acute phase post stroke and suggests positive, clinical meaningful effects on upper limb function, especially when delivered in the early sub-acute phase post stroke. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04584177.

Project description:BackgroundStroke is one of the leading medical conditions in the Philippines. Over 500,000 Filipinos suffer from stroke annually. Provision of evidence-based medical and rehabilitation management for stroke patients has been a challenge due to existing environmental, social, and local health system issues. Thus, existing western guidelines on stroke rehabilitation were contextualized to draft recommendations relevant to the local Philippine setting. Prior to fully implementing the guidelines, an audit of current practice needs to be undertaken, thus the purpose of this audit protocol.MethodsA clinical audit of current practices in stroke rehabilitation in the Philippines will be undertaken. A consensus list of data items to be captured was identified by the audit team during a 2-day meeting in 2012. These items, including patient demographics, type of stroke, time to referral for rehabilitation management, length of hospital stay, and other relevant descriptors of stroke management were included as part of the audit. Hospitals in the Philippines will be recruited to take part in the audit activity. Recruitment will be via the registry of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, where 90% of physiatrists (medical doctors specialized in rehabilitation medicine) are active members and are affiliated with various hospitals in the Philippines. Data collectors will be identified and trained in the audit process. A pilot audit will be conducted to test the feasibility of the audit protocol, and refinements to the protocol will be undertaken as necessary. The comprehensive audit process will take place for a period of 3 months. Data will be encoded using MS Excel(®). Data will be reported as means and percentages as appropriate. Subgroup analysis will be undertaken to look into differences and variability of stroke patient descriptors and rehabilitation activities.ConclusionThis audit study is an ambitious project, but given the "need" to conduct the audit to identify "gaps" in current practice, and the value it can bring to serve as a platform for implementation of evidence-based stroke management in the Philippines to achieve best patient and health outcomes, the audit team is more than ready to take up the challenge.

Project description:ObjectiveEffective stroke care does not end with acute treatment during hospitalization, but extends through rehabilitation and secondary stroke prevention. In transitions across care environments, stroke patients are vulnerable to errors in communication of diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to demonstrate that formalized communication between the neurology team and the rehabilitation medicine team would promote secondary stroke prevention and minimize interruptions during rehabilitation.MethodsThe intervention was a standardized verbal handoff by phone between the discharging neurology resident and the admitting rehabilitation resident regarding each patient at transfer. This retrospective cohort study compared a pre-intervention control group (September 2012 to February 2013) and a post-intervention group transferred with the handoff (September 2013 to January 2014). The outcomes measured included errors in communication of stroke severity, stroke mechanism, medications, and recommended follow-up (appointments and tests) as well as emergent brain imaging, return to the acute care facility, and readmission.ResultsThe pre- and post-intervention groups were similar with respect to number of patients (50 vs. 52) and demographics including gender (52 vs. 54% female), age (65.8 vs. 64.0?years), severity of illness as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (10 vs. 6.5), and stroke type (84 vs. 77% ischemic). Implementation of the handoff decreased errors in communication of diagnosis (NIHSS 92 vs. 74%, p?=?0.02; stroke mechanism 54 vs. 30%, p?=?0.02). Furthermore, the handoff decreased the proportion with errors in reconciliation of critical medications (42 vs. 23%, p?=?0.04). However, the intervention did not significantly reduce interruptions of the rehabilitation program, such as emergent brain imaging (8 vs. 12%, p?=?0.55), or transfers back to the acute care hospital (26 vs. 21%, p?=?0.56).ConclusionStandardized handoffs decreased errors in communication of diagnosis and critical medications for secondary stroke prevention.

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How is the audit of therapy intensity influencing rehabilitation in inpatient stroke units in the UK? An ethnographic study.

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How is the audit of therapy intensity influencing rehabilitation in inpatient stroke units in the UK? An ethnographic study.

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