Collegial mentoring through routine patient consultation—a new learning strategy in outpatient physical therapy settings

Abstract

(geriatric depression scale: GDS), balance (functional balance scale: FBS), and urinary incontinence were evaluated. Results: Among the 130 elderly people with disuse syndrome (mean± standard deviation age, 78.3± 10.5), 71 people were classified in the independent group and 59 in the dependent group. The mean duration of hospitalization was 21.3± 15.1 days. According to the univariate analysis, the number of days from onset to the start of rehabilitation, consciousness, transportation, grip strength, range of motion (extension of hip joint), and MMSE, GDS, and FBS scores was significantly different between the two groups. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, MMSE [odds ratio (OR), 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–1.53; p= 0.001] and GDS (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66–0.97; p= 0.03) were factors associated with the FIM score at discharge. Conclusion(s): Our study results suggested that cognitive levels and depressive state at the start of rehabilitation were associated with the ability of elderly people with disuse syndrome to recover independent ADL. Implications: The results of this study can be used to predict the prognosis of people who are hospitalized for internal disease. In addition, an early examination of mental function may be important for elderly people who undergo rehabilitation.