• Baris Ercal, Thomas L Rodebaugh, Marghuretta D Bland, Peggy Barco, Emily Lenard, Catherine E Lang, J Philip Miller, Michael Yingling, and Eric J Lenze.
• From the Healthy Mind Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (BE, EL, MY, EJL); Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis (TLR); and Program in Physical Therapy (MDB, CEL), Program in Occupational Therapy (PB), and Division of Biostatistics (JPM), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Jul 1; 100 (7): 635-642.

ObjectiveThis study examined cognitive, affective, and medical impairments and their impact on rehabilitation approaches for improving functional outcome after hospitalization in older adults.DesignA secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial in 229 adults 65 yrs or older admitted to two skilled nursing facilities undergoing rehabilitation services was conducted. Patients were randomized to receive physical and occupational therapy by therapists trained in systematic approaches to engage patients, called Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation, or standard of care. The outcome of interest was functional improvement, defined as Barthel Index at discharge (controlling for Barthel Index upon admission). This study analyzed the relationship of measures of cognition, depression, and medical comorbidities as predictors of functional outcome and as moderators interacting with treatment group.ResultsClock drawing score moderated treatment effect size; the functional improvement of Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation over standard of care therapy reduced with increasing executive impairment. In contrast, general cognitive abilities, depression, medical comorbidities, and readiness for rehabilitation were neither predictors nor moderators of functional improvement.ConclusionsFor older adults undergoing rehabilitation, greater functional improvement with the motivational techniques of Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation was contingent on patients having intact executive function. Given that executive function impairments are common in rehabilitation populations, new strategies are needed to improve treatment outcomes in physical/occupational therapy.To Claim Cme CreditsComplete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME.Cme ObjectivesUpon completion of this article, the reader should be able to (1) Discuss the role of baseline affective, cognitive, and medical impairments in impacting functional outcomes of older adults undergoing rehabilitation; (2) Describe the behavioral change and motivational approaches that are core features of the novel intervention known as Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation (E-MR); and (3) Determine the role of baseline executive function in moderating the effect of rehabilitation intervention on functional outcomes in older adults.LevelAdvanced.AccreditationThe Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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