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Admission to and Continuation of Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation in Queensland, Australia: A Survey of Factors that Contribute to the Consultant's Decision

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2014

Kathryn S. Hayward
Affiliation:
Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Philip D. Aitken
Affiliation:
Division of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Ruth N. Barker
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia Community Rehab Northern Queensland, Townsville Mackay Medicare Local, Townsville, Australia
Sandra G. Brauer*
Affiliation:
Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Sandra G. Brauer, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane St Lucia, Queensland, Australia, 4072. E-mail: s.brauer@uq.edu.au
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Abstract

Aim: To evaluate factors that may contribute to the decision of the consultant medical officer (CMO) to: (1) admit a person with stroke to inpatient rehabilitation from acute hospitalisation; and (2) continue or cease inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods: A web-based survey of CMOs practising in Queensland Australia, who were members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Geriatric Medicine (n ~ 90) or the Queensland Stroke Clinical Network (n ~ 30) was completed. The survey contained two sections to explore factors that could: (1) favour or disfavour admission to inpatient rehabilitation from acute hospitalisation; and (2) favour continuation or cessation of inpatient rehabilitation. Open and closed questions were used.

Results: Twenty-one CMOs (13–20% response rate, 43% geriatrician) completed the survey. Factors related to physical function, along with the presence of social supports favoured admission, while the presence of behavioural and cognitive impairments and a lack of staff capacity disfavoured admission. Improvements in function favoured continuation of inpatient rehabilitation, while a lack of improvement favoured cessation.

Conclusion: Factors related to the patient, their social support network and the organisation were found to influence the decision of the CMO to admit a person with stroke to inpatient rehabilitation from acute hospitalisation. Once in rehabilitation, demonstration of benefit was consistently reported to indicate continued service need.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 2014 

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