Factors affecting the Functional Independence Measure Gain of Patients with Stroke

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of rehabilitation in patients admitted to our clinic after stroke on the latest situation. Material and Methods: Medical records of 126 patients who were brought to the PMR Clinic at Antalya Education and Research Hospital between October 2010 and November 2011 and were hospitalized and received a rehabilitation program were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into the following groups according to etiology, ischemic and hemorrhagic; age, under and over 65years of age; the time passed until the onset of rehabilitation, early (<3 months) and late (≥3 months); and by affected side, right and left. The functional status of patients at admission to our center, at discharge from our center, and the functional gains during hospitalization were evaluated by Functional Independence Measure (FIM), FIM gain, and FIM efficiency. Results: Admission FIM values were found to be 73.2±29.1 for patients with acute phase and 80.7±32.9 for patients with chronic phase. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Mean FIM gain was 17.7±18.2 for patients with acute phase and 9.3±11.7 for patients with chronic phase; FIM gain in patients with acute phase was statistically significant (p=0.02). FIM efficiency in patients with acute phase was statistically significant (p=0.03). Conclusion: As a result, FIM gain and FIM efficiency in patients with acute phase were higher in patients with chronic phase in this retrospective study conducted in 126 hemiplegic patients. The early onset of rehabilitation will enable patients to perform more comfortable daily life activities and to achieve more functional gain.