Ann Acad Med Singap
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Jan 2007
Results from a prospective acute inpatient rehabilitation database: clinical characteristics and functional outcomes using the Functional Independence Measure.
Rehabilitation improves functional outcomes, but there is little data on the profiles and outcomes of patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation in Singapore. The aims of this paper were to document the clinical characteristics and functional outcomes, using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), of all patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit in a tertiary teaching hospital, and to identify and analyse factors significantly associated with better discharge functional scores and higher functional gains. ⋯ The FIM is an easy-to-use, standardised and robust general measure of functional disability. Multiple demographic, clinical and socio-cultural variables are associated with the primary functional outcomes and should be taken into account in rehabilitation and discharge planning. Nevertheless, rehabilitation improves functional outcomes across a wide range of diagnoses. Further research should be aimed at evaluating long-term disability postdischarge from inpatient rehabilitation and translating these findings into improving rehabilitation and healthcare resource utilisation.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Jan 2007
Employment status six months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation for a mild-to-moderate physical disability.
Physical disability presents unique challenges to the individual, family and community. One of these challenges is returning the individual to work. The current study looks at individuals with a mild-to-moderate physical disability 6 months post-discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and their employment status and perceived barriers to returning to work. ⋯ In this small prospective study, males were more likely not to return to work than females. Those of slightly younger age with more advanced education were more likely to return to work and fear of worsening of physical disability was the most common reason cited for not returning to work after a mild-to-moderate physical disability.