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PubMed2005

Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: an American Heart Association scientific statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology (Subcommittee on Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention) and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Subcommittee on Physical Activity), in collaboration with the American association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

This article updates the 1994 American Heart Association scientific statement on cardiac rehabilitation. It provides a review of recommended components for an effective cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention program, alternative ways to deliver these services, recommended future research directions, and the rationale for each component of the rehabilitation/secondary prevention program, with emphasis on the exercise training component.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed2000

Exercise-based rehabilitation for coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The burden of cardiovascular disease world-wide is one of great concern to patients and health care agencies alike. Circulatory diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, kill more people than any other disease. Cardiac rehabilitation aims to restore patients who have suffered myocardial infarction to optimal health through exercise only based rehabilitation or comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (eg. smoking cessation advice, diet and counselling as well as exercise). Data from two published and widely cited meta-analyses (Oldridge 1988, O'Connor 1989) of over 4,000 patients each have demonstrated that patients randomised to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation after MI have a statistically significant reduction in all-cause and cardiac mortality of about 20 to 25% compared to patients receiving conventional care. However, the trials included were small and often of poor methodological quality. Incomplete literature review methods may have resulted in publication bias thereby resulting in an over-estimate of the benefit of cardiac rehabilitation. The randomised controlled trials used in the reviews have focused almost exclusively on low-risk, middle-aged males post MI, thereby excluding women and the elderly. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of exercise only rehabilitation and exercise in addition to other rehabilitation interventions (termed comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation) compared with usual care on the mortality, morbidity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and modifiable cardiac risk factors of patients with coronary heart disease. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials, using standardised trial filters, from the earliest date available to December 31st 1998. SELECTION CRITERIA: Men and women of all ages, in both hospital-based and community-based settings, who have had myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or who have angina pectoris or coronary artery disease defined by angiography have been included. Studies involving participants following heart transplant, heart valve surgery or heart failure have been excluded. Follow up periods of less than 6 months were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Studies were selected independently by two reviewers, and data extracted independently. Authors were contacted where possible to obtain missing information. MAIN RESULTS: The current systematic review has allowed analysis of an increased number of patients from approximately 4500 in the earlier meta-analyses to 7683 (2582 in exercise only and 5101 in the comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation group). The quality of reporting overall was poor, with generally high losses to follow up. The pooled effect estimate for total mortality for the exercise only intervention shows a 27% reduction in all cause mortality (random effects model OR 0.73 (0.54, 0.98)). Similarly, comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation reduced all cause mortality compared to usual care, but to a lesser degree (OR 0.87 (0.71, 1.05)). Total cardiac mortality was reduced by 31% (random effects model OR 0.69 (0.51, 0.94)) and 26% (random effects model OR 0.74 (0.57, 0.96)) in the exercise only and comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation intervention groups respectively when compared to usual care. Neither intervention had any effect on the ocurrence of non-fatal myocardial infarction. There was a significant net reduction in total cholesterol in the comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation group (pooled WMD random effects model -0.57 mmol/l (-0.83, -0.31)), but not the exercise only rehabilitation group. Similarly, LDL was significantly reduced in the comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation group (pooled WMD random effects model -0.51 mmol/l (-0.82, -0.19). The effect of exercise only rehabilitation or comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation interventions on revascularisation rates, blood pressure or smoking behaviour could not be determined by this meta-analysis due to the small number of trials reporting these outcomes and heterogeneity between trials. It was not possible to combine the data from studies reporting HRQoL as an outcome. Eighteen different instruments were used to assess HRQoL in the 11 studies reporting it as an outcome. The data are presented qualitatively, only one trial reporting significant improvements with the intervention. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation appears to be effective in reducing cardiac deaths but the evidence base is weakened by poor quality trials. It is not clear from this review whether exercise only or a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation intervention is more beneficial. The population studied in this review is still predominately male, middle aged and low risk. Identification of the ethnic origin of the participants was seldom reported. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1997

[Quality assurance by patient surveys in medical rehabilitation: assessment and evaluation of rehabilitation structures and processes ("satisfaction of rehabilitation patients")].

Since 1994 Germany's statutory pension insurance schemes have been developing a multifaceted programme to assure and optimize the quality of their medical rehabilitation measures. One part aimed at developing a postal questionnaire for patients 8 to 12 weeks after rehab. It comprises two sections: one for the assessment of patients' perceptions and ratings in relation to rehab structures and processes, the other of changes of their health status. The article describes the development of the first part ("rehabilitee satisfaction"). We basically defined relevant sectors and qualities of medical rehab, analysing existing questionnaires, letters of complaint, results of expert interviews and patient focus groups. Mainly based on results from one large study of rehabilitees from two different pension insurance schemes (for blue or white collar workers), we report on psychometric properties of the final instrument, especially its contents, reliability, internal structure, validity and reference values. In February 1997, the instrument was accepted by the association of German pension schemes and may now be used in the routine phase of the quality programme, except for patients with psychosomatic disorders or substance abuse.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for neck and shoulder pain among working age adults.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation programs for neck and shoulder pain require substantial staff and financial resources. Despite questionable scientific evidence of their effectiveness, they are widely used. Neck and shoulder complaints are common among working age adults and they are often associated with physical work load and stress. Pain in the neck and shoulder area cause biopsychosocial difficulties for the patient especially if disability due to pain is prolonged. To help patients with biopsychosocial problems or to prevent their development, multidisciplinary biopsychosocial programs are applied on rehabilitation for neck and shoulder pain patients. Nevertheless multidisciplinary treatment programmes are often laborious and rather long processes and require good collaboration between the patient, the rehabilitation team and the work place. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for neck and shoulder pain among working age adults. SEARCH STRATEGY: The reviewed studies for this structured Cochrane review were identified from electronic bibliographic databases, the Science Citation Index, reference checking and consulting experts in the rehabilitation field. The original search was planned and performed for more broad area of musculoskeletal disorders. Trials on neck and shoulder pain were separated afterwards. SELECTION CRITERIA: From all references found in our original search we selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs). Trials had to assess the effectiveness of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for patients suffering from neck and shoulder pain among working age adults. The rehabilitation program was required to be multidisciplinary, i.e.; it had to consist of a physician's consultation plus either a psychological, social or vocational intervention, or a combination of these. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Four blinded reviewers selected the randomized controlled trials and controlled trials that met the specified inclusion criteria. Two experts in the field of rehabilitation evaluated the clinical relevance and applicability of the findings of the selected studies to actual clinical use. Two other blinded reviewers extracted the data and assessed the main results and the methodological quality of the studies using standardized forms. Finally, a qualitative analysis was performed to evaluate the level of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation. MAIN RESULTS: After screening 1808 abstracts, and the references of 65 reviews, we found only 2 relevant studies that satisfied our criteria. One of these was considered methodologically low quality randomized controlled trial and the other one was a methodologically low quality controlled clinical trial. The clinical relevance of included studies was satisfactory. The level of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation was limited for neck and shoulder pain. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there appears to be little scientific evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation compared with other rehabilitation facilities on neck and shoulder pain. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation is a commonly used intervention for chronic neck and shoulder complaints, therefore we see an urgent need for high quality trials in this field.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for subacute low back pain among working age adults.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation programs are widely applied for chronic low back pain patients. The biopsychosocial approach for low back pain could also be considered to prevent chronicity by carrying out the rehabilitation if the acute pain is prolonged. Nevertheless multidisciplinary treatment programmes are often laborious and long processes and require good collaboration between the patient, the rehabilitation team and the work place. By workplace visits and close relationship with occupational health care one might expect results in terms of patients working ability. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for subacute low back pain among working age adults. SEARCH STRATEGY: The reviewed studies for this structured Cochrane review were identified from electronic bibliographic databases, the Science Citation Index, reference checking and consulting experts in the rehabilitation field. The original search was planned and performed for more broad area of musculoskeletal disorders. Trials on subacute low back pain were separated afterwards. SELECTION CRITERIA: From all references found in our original search we selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs). Trials had to assess the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for working age patients suffering from subacute low back pain (more than 4 weeks but less than 3 months). The rehabilitation program was required to be multidisciplinary, i.e.; it had to consist of a physician's consultation plus either a psychological, social or vocational intervention, or a combination of these. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Four blinded reviewers selected the randomized controlled trials and controlled trials that met the specified inclusion criteria. Two experts in the field of rehabilitation evaluated the clinical relevance and applicability of the findings of the selected studies to actual clinical use. Two other blinded reviewers extracted the data and assessed the main results and the methodological quality of the studies using standardized forms. Finally, a qualitative analysis was performed to evaluate the level of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation. MAIN RESULTS: After screening 1808 abstracts, and the references of 65 reviews, we found only 2 relevant studies that satisfied our criteria on subacute low back pain. They were both considered to be methodologically low quality randomized controlled trials. The clinical relevance of included studies was sufficient. The level of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation was moderate on subacute low back pain showing that multidisciplinary rehabilitation which includes workplace visit or more comprehensive occupational health care intervention helps patients to return to work faster, makes sick leaves less and alleviates subjective disability. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is moderate evidence of positive effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for subacute low back pain and workplace visit increases the effectiveness. But because this evidence is based on the trials that had some methodological shortcomings and several expensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes are commonly used for common subacute low back problems, there is an obvious need for high quality trials in this field.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Pulmonary rehabilitation in the acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

In closing, pulmonary rehabilitation in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital is not a new idea, but is now becoming more popular as the burden of care shifts away from the acute care hospital. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been demonstrated to be cost-effective, improve quality of life, and decrease the number of future hospital days for the patient. A few surveys have shown, however, that only 5% of pulmonary rehabilitation programs serviced inpatients in a rehabilitation hospital, and only 1% of 283 programs had a physiatrist as the medical director of the pulmonary rehabilitation program. Nine percent of programs surveyed serviced inpatients in rehabilitation units within the acute care hospital. Clearly, the majority of pulmonary rehabilitation programs are on an outpatient basis, and many of these are located within the walls of a rehabilitation hospital. Effective pulmonary rehabilitation can be done in the home setting when combined with outpatient therapy visits over a 12-week duration. The spectrum of pulmonary rehabilitation will continue to evolve into the twenty-first century, and clearly the rehabilitation hospital will be part of that change. Whether caring for very elderly COPD patients who are too debilitated to return home from the acute care hospital or managing ventilator-dependent patients with COPD, spinal cord injury, or neuromuscular disease, the IPR team and the rehabilitation hospital will have to demonstrate cost-effective outcomes. Physiatrists should play a major role in this evolution, on both a patient-benefit level and legislative level, to increase awareness of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Health Care Reform↗
PubMed2002

[Oncological rehabilitation: evaluation of the efficiency of inpatient rehabilitation].

BACKGROUND: There are only few studies on the evaluation of the efficiency of oncologic rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of a complex rehabilitation programme consisting of medical care, physical therapy, sports therapy, psychological support and health care seminars. Therefore the rehabilitation requirement at admission and the rehabilitation result at discharge were assessed in a patient sample. METHODS: To determine the rehabilitation requirement and the rehabilitation result, a self-assessment patient questionnaire was used (IRES, Indicators of Reha Status). This questionnaire allows establishing essential patient's parameters, which, besides the medical reports and the doctors' and therapists' opinions, are relevant for the Reha aims and important for the treatment strategy. The IRES instrument is a reliable, valid, sensitive and standardized multidimensional test instrument for assessment and outcome measurement in rehabilitation comprising parameters of somatic, functional and psychosocial issues. With the questionnaire the rehabilitation requirement was determined at the various measuring points as "Reha-status" with the three main dimensions "somatic status", "functional status" and "psychosocial status" or as distress scales (score values 0 - 10). The data were collected at admission to inpatient rehabilitation (T0) and at discharge (T1). RESULTS: At T0 967 patients with various oncologic diseases (breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, urogenital cancer, haematological and lymphatic systemic diseases, and various other types of cancer) were included into the study. At discharge (T1) 900 patients were included; subject to evaluation at T0 and T1 were n = 883 patients. Average age was 55,7 +/- 11,9 years; 55,7 % were female, 44,3 % male. According to "Reha-status" 44 % were "extremely suspect" (IRES-score 5,4 +/- 0,8), 26 % "suspect" (6,8 +/- 0,4), and 30 % "normal" (7,9 +/- 0,6) in comparison to a norm-reference test. Pre/post analysis (T0/T1) of the sample revealed a significant improvement of "Reha-status" (T0 = 6,6 +/- 1,2/T1 = 6,81 +/- 1,3; p < 0,001). Significant improvements were also noticed for the subdimensions "somatic status" (T0 = 5,9 +/- 1,5/T1 = 6,1 +/- 1,6; p < 0,001) and "psychosocial status" (T0 = 6,9 +/- 1,5/T1 = 7,2 +/- 1,5; p < 0,001), whereas "functional status" had not changed significantly (T0 = 7,1 +/- 1,6/T1 = 7,2 +/- 1,5; p > 0,05). Especially distinct improvements were observed in "psychosocial status" and in the distress scales, which are particular relevant in oncological patients. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrates that use of the IRES instrument is feasible also in clinical routine, hence supporting the determination of the patient's individual rehabilitation requirement and his or her individual rehabilitation aims. The findings confirm that during rehabilitation measurable and statistically significant positive effects are achieved in the somatic and psychosocial fields. In summary, this study shows that the complex programme of oncological inpatient rehabilitation achieves relevant changes within important distress issues of the patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation versus hospital-based rehabilitation: a cost effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Home-based cardiac rehabilitation offers an alternative to traditional, hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation. AIM: To compare the cost effectiveness of home-based cardiac rehabilitation and hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS: 104 patients with an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction and without major comorbidity were randomized to receive home-based rehabilitation (n=60) i.e. nurse facilitated, self-help package of 6 weeks' duration (the Heart Manual) or hospital-based rehabilitation for 8-10 weeks (n=44). Complete economic data were available in 80 patients (48 who received home-based rehabilitation and 32 who received hospital-based rehabilitation). Healthcare costs, patient costs, and quality of life (EQ-5D4.13) were assessed over the 9 months of the study. RESULTS: The cost of running the home-based rehabilitation programme was slightly lower than that of the hospital-based programme (mean (95% confidence interval) difference - 30 pounds sterling (- 45 pounds sterling to - 12 pounds sterling) [-44 euro, -67 euro to -18 euro] per patient. The cost difference was largely the result of reduced personnel costs. Over the 9 months of the study, no significant difference was seen between the two groups in overall healthcare costs (78 pounds sterling, - 1102 pounds sterling to 1191 pounds sterling [-115 euro, -1631 euro to -1763 euro] per patient) or quality adjusted life-years (-0.06 (-0.15 to 0.02)). The lack of significant difference between home-based rehabilitation and hospital-based rehabilitation did not alter when different costs and different methods of analysis were used. CONCLUSIONS: The health gain and total healthcare costs of the present hospital-based and home-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes for patients after myocardial infarction appear to be similar. These initial results require affirmation by further economic evaluations of cardiac rehabilitation in different settings.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rehabilitation outcomes of a psychosomatic clinic integrating fully inpatient and partial hospitalization rehabilitation approaches: a comparison].

As publications from the domain of psychosomatic rehabilitation pertaining to the conceptual approaches and effects of partial-hospitalization rehabilitation have so far relied on very small case numbers, the effectiveness of partial-hospitalization rehabilitation was analysed in 318 patients in comparison to a large sample of rehabilitants who had participated in fully inpatient rehabilitation. No relevant differences were found among the groups studied in sociodemographic respects or range of diagnoses. The same was true concerning the level of complaints present at the onset of rehabilitation. Good rehabilitation outcomes were achieved in both groups, however, the effect sizes found for changes in depressiveness and indulgence to complaining ("Klagsamkeit") (GSI from the SCL-90) were lower in the partial-hospitalization group than in the patients in fully inpatient rehabilitation. Also, the relatively high share of partial-hospitalization patients discharged unable to return to work might be clinically significant. While our findings confirm the good results reported from other disciplines, they nevertheless are a reminder of the need for very careful selection of patients for partial-hospitalization rehabilitation, in order not to withhold "better" rehabilitation than could be provided on a partial-hospitalization basis from patients with special sociomedical problems. The best rehabilitation outcomes seem to be achieved by those patients who, towards the end of fully inpatient rehabilitation, were granted transition to the partial-hospitalization programme.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Outpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation: treatment, outcomes and costs as compared to inpatient rehabilitation].

In a parallel design the study examined an outpatient rehabilitation model project for patients of the pension insurance scheme of Rhineland-Palatinate (LVA Rheinland-Pfalz). In 6 centers for the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal diseases patients were assessed at the beginning and at the end of rehabilitation as well as six and twelve months after discharge. In this article the final results concerning therapeutic measures as well as health-related and economic outcomes are presented. Not included are aspects of differential utilization and the perception of the rehabilitation by the clients, which will be published in a separate article. No large differences were found concerning participation in the various therapeutic measures. As measured by the main score and the sub-dimensions of the IRES patient questionnaire, effects of the same magnitude were found for the parallelized samples. Equally, no differences in outcome quality were found concerning the great majority of medical parameters documented in a doctors' questionnaire, the rate of applications for pension, occupational status twelve months after rehabilitation, as well as the reduction of sick-leave. The economic evaluation was carried out only from the perspective of the pension insurance agency. Considerable differences were found in the net costs of rehabilitation: although there are no user charges for patients in outpatient rehabilitation, mean expenditure was about 970 EURO lower than in inpatient rehabilitation. The study findings demonstrate that the concept of interdisciplinary rehabilitation has been realized in the outpatient centers as well and that the centers have reached an effectiveness comparable to that of inpatient rehabilitation. At least those patients who actively choose the outpatient setting gain as much as patients in inpatient rehabilitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Rehabilitation staff perceptions of characteristics of geriatric rehabilitation patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if professionals treating older rehabilitation patients regarded them as having different characteristics than younger rehabilitation patients, to derive factors from these perceptions, and to examine the impact of the discipline of the professional and other factors on these perceptions. DESIGN: Rehabilitation professionals at a random sample of facilities accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities were surveyed to determine their level of agreement with 60 items addressing characteristics of older rehabilitation patients. The items were derived from focus groups with rehabilitation staff members. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand sixty-three rehabilitation professionals from nine disciplines (nursing, occupational therapy, physiatry, physical therapy, psychology, social work, speech pathology, therapeutic recreation, and vocational counseling) responded to the questionnaire and were included in the study. RESULTS: There was a wide range of agreement levels across the 60 items (range of median agreement, 12.7% to 93.5%). Factor analysis resulted in six categories of perceptions regarding older rehabilitation patients: (1) physical limitations, (2) motivational deficits, (3) psychological distress/need for support, (4) maturity and positive coping skills, (5) need for privacy/decreased adaptability, and (6) discharge complications. Significant differences across disciplines were found for five of six factors. Nurses agreed more strongly with the negative psychological factors (2, 3, and 5) compared to physical therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Physicians scored significantly higher than two other disciplines on the physical limitations factor. These differences may be related to the distinct role each discipline plays in the rehabilitation process. Older professionals also scored higher on four factors, likely because of personal rather than professional experience with aging. CONCLUSIONS: Treating professionals recognize differences between younger and older rehabilitation patients. Many of these perceived differences can be viewed as variables that require more effort and skill on the part of the treating professional. The training of rehabilitation professionals needs to better prepare individuals from all disciplines to adapt to age-specific differences.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

[Developing a rehabilitation databank for Germany--conceptional considerations exemplified by UDSMRSM (Uniform Datasystem of Medical Rehabilitation)].

Current research in medical rehabilitation lacks well designed clinical studies to demonstrate the efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of rehabilitation interventions. Randomized controlled studies (RCTs) are difficult to conduct in rehabilitation research because of multiple variables and difficulties to include appropriate control groups. Therefore, we propose the development of a rehabilitation database and network for Germany to allow data collection from daily rehabilitation practice in the three areas medical-objective, perceptive-subjective and economical-social, designed after the example of the Uniform Datasystem of Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMRSM). This American database uses the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to monitor functional changes in medical rehabilitation patients. Quarterly reports are sent out to participating institutions and allow comparisons with other regional, national and international institutions. The database demonstrates an initial step towards the concept of "evidence-based rehabilitation" by defining a common rehabilitation outcome and it allows benchmarking with other rehabilitation facilities. This permits the development of quality standards, cost analyses, payment systems and a new research methodology that can identify the most effective rehabilitation method through statistical analysis for focused clinical trials.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

[Cancer rehabilitation in the Federal Republic of Germany--a critical review from the perspective of rehabilitation psychology].

Against the background of a common criticism of the rehabilitation system, the situation of rehabilitation research and practice in oncology is reviewed. A lack of efforts aimed at vocational rehabilitation as well as the main emphasis in inpatient services is criticized. Till now, outpatient services as well as psychosocial rehabilitation care are not as well established, as they should be with regard to provide assistance in coping with the disease and in adapting to the various disabilities may be followed by cancer. As rehabilitation research in oncology is still at its very beginning, we know little about the acceptance of rehabilitation measures as well as the rehabilitation process in its correlation between outcome criteria. Our own pilot study provides first results concerning vocational rehabilitation and acceptance of medical rehabilitation services. As conclusion, we need more elaborated research in oncological rehabilitation for optimizing and further developing rehabilitation care system especially with respect to outpatient and psychosocial services.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2006

[The continuum of rehabilitation care and the rehabilitation services that are needed by people with severe disabilities].

OBJECTIVES: As the number of people with disabilities is increasing and their needs for care are varied, the continuum and comprehensiveness of their rehabilitative care are getting more important. This study was performed to understand the utilization of rehabilitation services and requirements of care among the people with severe disabilities in Korea. METHODS: We interviewed 578 disabled persons who had severe extremity and cerebral impairment in the urban and rural areas of Korea. The questionnaire included questions on their general characteristics, the type of disability, their physical function (ADL, IADL), their use of rehabilitation services after discharge and their requirements for rehabilitation care. RESULTS: Only 12.6% of people with disability in the community continuously used the available medical rehabilitation care. The associated factors for utilization of rehabilitation services were pain and admission for rehabilitative treatment in the acute phase. There was a great need for rehabilitation services in community and this varied according to gender, the socio-economic status, the functional status and the geographic region. The gap between utilization and need for rehabilitation services was largest in the economic support. The gap of primary health care was larger in the rural area than in the urban area. CONCLUSIONS: The needs for rehabilitation service were diverse according to the individual functional status, the regional characteristics and other general characteristics of people with disability. Strategies should be considered to eliminate the barriers to obtain rehabilitation services for the people with disability in the community.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation compared with centre-based rehabilitation and usual care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To determine the effectiveness of home-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes compared with (i) usual care and (ii) supervised centre-based cardiac rehabilitation on mortality, health related quality of life and modifiable cardiac risk factors of patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: mortality, smoking cessation, exercise capacity, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, psychological status, and health related quality of life. RESULTS: Eighteen included trials for home versus usual rehabilitation and six trials of home versus supervised centre-based rehabilitation were identified. The home-based interventions were clinically heterogeneous, trials often small, with quality poorly reported. Compared with usual care, home-based cardiac rehabilitation had a 4 mm Hg (95% CI 6.5, 1.5) greater reduction in systolic blood pressure, and a reduced relative risk of being a smoker at follow-up (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51, 1.00). Differences in exercise capacity, total cholesterol, anxiety and depression were all in favour of the home-based group. In patients post-myocardial infarction exercise capacity was significantly improved in the home rehabilitation group by 1.1 METS (95% CI 0.2, 2.1) compared to usual care. The comparison of home-based with supervised centre-based cardiac rehabilitation revealed no significant differences in exercise capacity, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not show home-based cardiac rehabilitation to be significantly inferior to centre-based rehabilitation for low-risk cardiac patients. However, the numbers of patients included are less than 750 and ongoing trials will contribute to the debate on the acceptability, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiology Service, Hospital↗