Rehabilitation Hospital Research Articles

Investigation of Nutritional Status and Nutritional Knowledge Levels of Staff Working in A Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the aim is to examine the nutritional status, nutritional habits and nutritional knowledge levels of the personnel working in a physical therapy and rehabilitation hospital. The Eating Attitude Test was used to determine the presence of an eating disorder in the participants, and the Basic Nutrition Knowledge Scale was used to determine the nutritional knowledge level of the participants. Ninety-four female (62.67%) and 56 male (37.33%) individuals participated in the study. The mean age of women was 33.67±9.32, and the mean age of men was 38.73±13.58. It was determined that the participants skipped 1 main meal and 2 snacks on average. Eating attitude disorder was found in 29 (19.33%) participants. No statistically significant relationship was found between having an eating behavior disorder and variables such as age, occupation and education level (p>0.05). No statistically significant relationship was found between eating behavior disorder and nutritional knowledge level (p=0.160). In conclusion, contrary to what was expected, it was determined that the nutritional status of the personnel was not very good, and their nutritional habits and nutritional knowledge levels were insufficient.

Rehabilitation of Frail Older Adults after Hip Fracture Surgery: Predictors for the Length of Geriatric Rehabilitation Stay at a Skilled Nursing Home.

Background: Approximately 50% of older patients hospitalized for hip fractures are admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation department at a skilled nursing home. Given the wide variation in rehabilitation stay lengths, predicting the length of stay upon hospital discharge would help manage patients' recovery expectations and create appropriate therapy schedules. Existing literature on length of stay predictors included both acute hospital and in-hospital rehabilitation phases or involved small sample sizes. The present study aims to identify predictors for the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay in skilled nursing homes for older patients after hip fracture surgery upon hospital discharge. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from 1 October 2017 to 1 July 2023, including 561 patients. Potential predictors of the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay were first tested univariately, with variables showing p < 0.15 entered into a multivariate forward linear regression model. Results: This model identified the following independent predictors of a longer length of geriatric rehabilitation stay: Functional Ambulation Categories (FACs) 0 (B = 29.9, 95% CI 24.1-35.7), 1 (B = 18.0, 95% CI 11.8-24.2), 2 (B = 12.0, 95% CI 7.1-17.0), or 3 (B = 3.6, 95% CI -1.2-9.4) at hospital discharge vs. FAC 4, living independently with home care services (B = 5.9, 95% CI 2.5-9.3) or in a residential home prior to the hip fracture (B = 0.2, 95% CI -7.4-7.8) vs. living independently without home care services, non- or partial weight-bearing mobilization vs. full weight-bearing mobilization (B = 15.4, 95% CI 8.5-22.2), internal fixation vs. hemiarthroplasty (B = 4.7, 95% CI 1.4-7.9), in-hospital delirium (B = 7.0, 95% CI 2.2-11.7), and in-hospital heart failure (B = 7.9, 95% CI 0.5-15.3). The explained variance was 32.0%. Conclusions: This study identified FAC at hospital discharge, premorbid living situation, postoperative weight-bearing protocol, surgery type, in-hospital delirium, and in-hospital heart failure as independent predictors of the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay. Future investigations are needed to identify additional predictors, such as cognitive functioning, to better predict the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay upon hospital discharge.

Efficacy of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Cognition in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The efficacy of cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) in patients with vascular cognitive impairment has not been explored, and no studies investigating CST in the convalescent rehabilitation phase have been reported. This study examined the effect of CST on the cognitive function of patients with vascular cognitive impairment. A randomized controlled, assessor-blinded, single-centered trial with two parallel groups was conducted in a convalescent rehabilitation hospital. Twenty participants were randomly allocated to CST (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Participants in the CST group underwent two CST sessions a day, five times a week for 8 weeks, in addition to conventional rehabilitation. Participants in the control group underwent conventional rehabilitation only. The primary outcome was the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, and the outcome between the groups was compared using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). The mean (standard deviation) scores of MMSE increased by 3.50 (3.08) points and 4.50 (1.61) points from baseline to the end of the study (week 8) in the CST and control groups, respectively. The GLMM showed a significant effect of TIME on MMSE (F=21.121, P<0.001), whereas no significant effect on MMSE was observed for GROUP (intervention vs. control, P=0.817) or the interaction term (TIME×GROUP, P=0.649). Although a significant improvement in cognitive function was observed in each group, no significant effect of CST was evident. This result indicates that the effect may have been masked by improvements caused by natural history or rehabilitation. Future studies with a sufficient sample size are required to confirm the findings.

Transition from rehabilitation hospital to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for people with brain injury and spinal cord injury: a data linkage protocol

IntroductionTraumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are both major contributors to permanent disability globally, with an estimated 27 million new cases of TBI and 0.93 million new...

Exploring the impact of anticholinergic burden on urinary independence: insights from a post-stroke cohort of older adults.

Anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse events in the older adults. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding its effect on urinary independence in stroke patients. This study examined the association between increased anticholinergic burden during hospitalization and urinary independence in post-stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. This observational cross-sectional study included stroke patients admitted to a post-acute rehabilitation hospital between 2020 and 2022 who were not independently urinating. The degree of urinary independence was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure-Bladder (FIM-Bladder), a subscale of the motor domain of the FIM, and urinary independence was defined as FIM-Bladder ≥ 6. Anticholinergic burden was assessed using the anticholinergic risk scale (ARS), and changes in ARS during hospitalization were calculated by subtracting the value at admission from the value at discharge. The study outcome was urinary independence at discharge. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether change in ARS score was independently associated with the outcome. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Of the 573 patients enrolled, 312 patients (mean age 77.5years, 51.9% male) were included in the analysis. ARS increased during hospitalization in 57 patients (18.3%). Change in ARS score was independently associated with urinary independence (odds ratio: 0.432, 95% confidence interval: 0.247-0.756, P = 0.003). Increased anticholinergic burden in post-stroke patients who require assistance with urination is significantly associated with less independent urination. Anticholinergic agents may need to be introduced cautiously in patients who require assistance with urination.

Effects of the intermittent theta burst stimulation on gait, balance and lower limbs motor function in stroke: study protocol for a double-blind randomised controlled trial with multimodal neuroimaging assessments

IntroductionApproximately, 50% of stroke survivors experience impaired walking ability 6 months after conventional rehabilitation and standard care. However, compared with upper limb motor function, research on lower limbs rehabilitation through...

Trauma center rehabilitation systems in Latin America.

Trauma is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide with high rates of disability in survivors. With improvements in care, rehabilitation of the trauma patient is a cornerstone to reducing sequelae. A lack of well-established hospital rehabilitation units and standardized protocols for managing posttraumatic injuries is a common problem in Latin American countries. Future studies should seek to understand the barriers and gaps in care so that consensus and ultimately best practice guidelines can be developed and included in rehabilitation programs throughout trauma centers in Latin America.

Assessing actigraphy performance for daytime sleep detection following stroke: insights from inpatient monitoring in a rehabilitation hospital.

Stroke can result in or exacerbate various sleep disorders. The presence of behaviors such as daytime sleepiness poststroke can indicate underlying sleep disorders which can significantly impact functional recovery and thus require prompt detection and monitoring for improved care. Actigraphy, a quantitative measurement technology, has been primarily validated for nighttime sleep in healthy adults; however, its validity for daytime sleep monitoring is currently unknown. Therefore this study aims to identify the best-performing actigraphy sensor and algorithm for detecting daytime sleep in poststroke individuals. Participants wore Actiwatch Spectrum and ActiGraph wGT3X-BT on their less-affected wrist, while trained observers recorded daytime sleep occurrences and activity levels (active, sedentary, and asleep) during non-therapy times. Algorithms, Actiwatch (Autoscore AMRI) and ActiGraph (Cole-Kripke, Sadeh), were compared with on-site observations and assessed using F2 scores, emphasizing sensitivity to detect daytime sleep. Twenty-seven participants from an inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit contributed 173.5 hours of data. The ActiGraph Cole-Kripke algorithm (minute sleep time = 15 minutes, bedtime = 10 minutes, and wake time = 10 minutes) achieved the highest F2 score (0.59). Notably, when participants were in bed, the ActiGraph Cole-Kripke algorithm continued to outperform Sadeh and Actiwatch AMRI, with an F2 score of 0.69. The study demonstrates both Actiwatch and ActiGraph's ability to detect daytime sleep, particularly during bed rest. ActiGraph (Cole-Kripke) algorithm exhibited a more balanced sleep detection profile and higher F2 scores compared to Actiwatch, offering valuable insights for optimizing daytime sleep monitoring with actigraphy in stroke patients.

Group-based trajectories of potentially preventable hospitalisations among older adults after a hip fracture

SummaryKey predictors of three trajectory group membership of potentially preventable hospitalisations were age, the number of comorbidities, the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure, and frailty risk at the occurrence of hip fracture. These predictors of their trajectory group could be used in targeting prevention strategies.PurposeAlthough older adults with hip fracture have a higher risk of multiple readmissions after index hospitalisation, little is known about potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) after discharge. This study examined group-based trajectories of PPH during a five-year period after a hip fracture among older adults and identified factors predictive of their trajectory group membership.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked hospitalisation and mortality data in New South Wales, Australia, between 2013 and 2021. Patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted after a hip fracture and discharged between 2014 and 2016 were identified. Group-based trajectory models were derived based on the number of subsequent PPH following the index hospitalisation. Multinominal logistic regression examined factors predictive of trajectory group membership.ResultsThree PPH trajectory groups were revealed among 17,591 patients: no PPH (89.5%), low PPH (10.0%), and high PPH (0.4%). Key predictors of PPH trajectory group membership were age, number of comorbidities, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), frailty risk, place of incident, surgery, rehabilitation, and length of hospital stay. The high PPH had a higher proportion of patients with ≥ 2 comorbidities (OR: 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–3.32) and COPD (OR: 2.97, 95%CIs: 1.76–5.04) than the low PPH, and the low and high PPHs were more likely to have CHF and high frailty risk as well as ≥ 2 comorbidities and COPD than the no PPH.ConclusionsIdentifying trajectories of PPH after a hip fracture and factors predictive of trajectory group membership could be used to target strategies to reduce multiple readmissions.

Clinical implementation, barriers, and unmet needs of rTMS and neuro-navigation systems in stroke rehabilitation: a nationwide survey in South Korea.

The objective of this study was to determine the implementation, clinical barriers, and unmet needs of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and neuro-navigation systems for stroke rehabilitation. We employed a nationwide survey via Google Forms (web and mobile) consisting of 36 questions across rTMS and neuro-navigation systems, focusing on their implementation, perceptions, and unmet needs in stroke recovery. The survey targeted physiatrists registered in the Korean Society for Neuro-rehabilitation and in rehabilitation hospitals in South Korea. Of 1,129 surveys distributed, 122 responses were analyzed. Most respondents acknowledged the effectiveness of rTMS in treating post-stroke impairments; however, they highlighted significant unmet needs in standardized treatment protocols, guidelines, education, device usability, and insurance coverage. Unmet needs for neuro-navigation were also identified; only 7.4% of respondents currently used such systems, despite acknowledging their potential to enhance treatment accuracy. Seventy percent of respondents identified lack of prescription coverage, time and errors in preparation, and device cost as barriers to clinical adoption of neuro-navigation systems. Despite recognition of the potential of rTMS in stroke rehabilitation, there is a considerable gap between research evidence and clinical practice. Addressing these challenges, establishing standardized protocols, and advancing accessible neuro-navigation systems could significantly enhance the clinical application of rTMS, offering a more personalized, effective treatment modality for stroke recovery.

Effects of Mobile Intelligent Cognitive Training for Patients with Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Study.

The current application effects of computerized cognitive intervention are inconsistent and limited to hospital rehabilitation settings. To investigate the effect of mobile intelligent cognitive training (MICT) on patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). This study was a multicenter, prospective, open-label, blinded endpoint, cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT). 518 PSCI patients were stratified and assigned to four rehabilitation settings, and then patients were randomized into experimental and control groups in each rehabilitation setting through cluster randomization. All patients received comprehensive management for PSCI, while the experimental group additionally received MICT intervention. Treatment was 30 minutes daily, 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL) were assessed before the treatment, at weeks 6 and 12 post-treatment, and a 16-week follow-up. Linear Mixed Effects Models showed patients with PSCI were better off than pre-treatment patients on each outcome measure (p < 0.05). Additionally, the improvement of these outcomes in the experimental group was significantly better than in the control group at week 6 post-treatment and 16-week follow-up (p < 0.05). The rehabilitation setting also affected the cognitive efficacy of MICT intervention in improving PSCI patients, and the degree of improvement in each outcome was found to be highest in hospital, followed by community, nursing home, and home settings. Long-term MICT intervention can improve cognition, ADL, and QOL in patients with PSCI, with sustained effects for at least one month. Notably, different rehabilitation settings affect the cognitive intervention efficacy of MICT on PSCI patients. However, this still needs to be further determined in future studies.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Rehabilitation Methods for Stroke Survivors

Background: One of the challenges in stroke management is how to provide rehabilitation services to stroke patients in Iran. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for stroke patients in three settings: Hospitals, stroke units, and homes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from the perspective of the health system. A Markov model with a 20-year time horizon and 3-month cycles was used to analyze costs and outcomes. Cost data were collected from 210 patients undergoing rehabilitation in hospitals, homes, or stroke units. The cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was conducted by calculating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) using Tree Age software. Results: The average rehabilitation cost for the home strategy ($2306 ± 35.018) was less than that for the hospital ($2955 ± 48.18) and stroke unit ($3485 ± 51.63) strategies. Furthermore, the QALY of the home strategy (26.03) was 8 times higher than that of the hospital (17.99) and 19 times higher than that of the stroke unit (7.03). The average cost-effectiveness ratios for the hospital, stroke unit, and home groups were $11424, $33159, and $7233 per QALY, respectively. The ICERs for stroke unit and home rehabilitation relative to hospital rehabilitation were $2517 and $2145 per QALY, respectively. Conclusions: According to the results, the home-based rehabilitation strategy is more cost-effective than hospital and stroke unit rehabilitation strategies. Given the high rates of stroke and its associated costs in Iran, it is suggested that policymakers lay the groundwork for providing these services at home.

Long‐term implications of a multidisciplinary tube‐weaning program: Parental perspectives

AbstractObjectivesChildren who are unable to eat and drink orally require temporary or permanent enteral nutritional support via tube feeding. The objective was to describe a weaning program held at a children's rehabilitation hospital and to review the long‐term outcomes of the transition from tube nutrition to oral feeding.MethodsThe parents of 82 children who took part in the ALYN intervention program from 2011 to 2022 were requested to participate in a telephone survey to learn about their child's status related to eating, education, social wellbeing, and overall health. They also provided feedback concerning their experience with the tube‐weaning program and their current reliance on support for eating‐related issues.ResultsThe parents of 35 (39%) children responded. Their mean ± SD age at the time of treatment were 2.1 ± 1.76, and the mean ± SD age at the time of the survey 8.85 ± 3.96 years. Their mean current zBMI is −0.7. Overall, parents were very satisfied with the child's eating (4.7 out of 5) ± 0.7, and few reported that the child's eating affected the family mealtime routine (2.1 out of 5) ± 1.3. The children's age at weaning was significantly correlated with parental reports of concern with the child's current eating ability, with younger ages at weaning associated with lower parental concern.ConclusionsThe data demonstrated that despite the complexity of the participants, most children succeed in achieving long‐term independent eating, good nutritional status, and social participation around mealtimes.

Automated Detection of In-Home Activities with Ultra-Wideband Sensors.

As Canada's population of older adults rises, the need for aging-in-place solutions is growing due to the declining quality of long-term-care homes and long wait times. While the current standards include questionnaire-based assessments for monitoring activities of daily living (ADLs), there is an urgent need for advanced indoor localization technologies that ensure privacy. This study explores the use of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology for activity recognition in a mock condo in the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. UWB systems with built-in Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors were tested, using anchors set up across the condo and a tag worn by patients. We tested various UWB setups, changed the number of anchors, and varied the tag placement (on the wrist or chest). Wrist-worn tags consistently outperformed chest-worn tags, and the nine-anchor configuration yielded the highest accuracy. Machine learning models were developed to classify activities based on UWB and IMU data. Models that included positional data significantly outperformed those that did not. The Random Forest model with a 4 s data window achieved an accuracy of 94%, compared to 79.2% when positional data were excluded. These findings demonstrate that incorporating positional data with IMU sensors is a promising method for effective remote patient monitoring.

Effects of the Internet-based rehabilitation information sharing program on psychological stress of family caregivers of inpatients: A non-randomized controlled study.

The psychological impact of Internet-based rehabilitation information provision on family caregivers of inpatients has not yet been investigated. This study investigated the impact of the Internet-based rehabilitation information sharing program on anxiety and depression among family caregivers of inpatients. Participants were patients admitted to a rehabilitation hospital and their families. The Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) group received weekly reports with photos and videos showing rehabilitation progress and patients' activities of daily living, whereas the control group received only conventional care. The primary outcomes were the anxiety and depression scores of family caregivers, assessed at admission, discharge, and 1 month after discharge. Eighty-three participants were followed up (ICT group, n = 43; control group, n = 40). To minimize the impact of confounding factors, propensity-score matching was performed. Significant effects on anxiety (P = .03) and depression (P = .049) were found in the ICT group compared with the control group. The median difference in anxiety scores from discharge to 1 month post-discharge was -1.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: -2.0 to 0.8) in the ICT group versus 1.0 (IQR: -1.0 to 2.0) in the control group. The median difference in depression scores from admission to discharge was 0.5 (IQR: -1.0 to 2.8) in the ICT group and 2.0 (IQR: 1.0-3.8) in the control group. The Internet-based rehabilitation information sharing program may help reduce the family caregivers' psychological stress, enabling improved patient care.

Creating a Sustaining Culture for Patient Engagement.

Engagement-capable environments enable strategies and processes supporting patient engagement. However, research using this framework has not fully explored how leaders can help to shape organizational cultures that sustain engagement over time, even during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using interviews and documents from the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, ON, prior to and after the pandemic, we examine the maturation of their engagement practices and culture to illustrate how a supportive culture developed and shaped their responses to this crisis. Further exploration of such dynamics could inform leaders designing engagement strategies with greater impact and sustainment.

Combining Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride With Targeted Muscle Activation Training to Treat Upper Extremity Stroke: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

ObjectiveTo examine a treatment for upper extremity impairment in stroke survivors that combines administration of cyproheptadine hydrochloride with repetitive practice focused on control of muscle activation patterns. DesignDouble-blind, randomized controlled trial. SettingsLaboratory within a free-standing rehabilitation hospital. ParticipantsA total of 94 stroke survivors with severe, chronic hand impairment were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. InterventionsParticipants received either a placebo or cyproheptadine hydrochloride in identical pill form. The daily dosage of cyproheptadine/placebo was gradually increased from 8 to 24 mg/d over 3 weeks and then maintained over the next 6 weeks while participants completed 18 therapy sessions. Therapy consisted of either (1) active practice of muscle activation patterns to play “serious” computer games or control a custom hand exoskeleton or (2) passive, cyclical finger stretching imposed by the exoskeleton. Main Outcome MeasuresHand control was evaluated with the primary outcome measure of time to complete the Graded Wolf Motor Function Test (GWMFT) and secondary outcome measures including finger strength and spasticity. ResultsAcross the 88 participants who completed the study, a repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of GroupxEvaluation interaction on GWMFT (F=1.996, P=.026). The 3 groups receiving cyproheptadine and/or actively practicing muscle activation pattern control exhibited significant reduction in mean time to complete the GWMFT tasks; roughly one-third of these participants experienced at least a 10% reduction in completion time. Gains were maintained at the 1-month follow-up evaluation. The group receiving placebo and passive stretching did not show improvement. No significant differences among groups were observed in terms of changes in strength or spasticity. ConclusionsDespite chronic, severe impairment, stroke survivors were able to complete the therapy focused on muscle activations and achieved statistically significant improvement in hand motor control. Cyproheptadine hydrochloride is a potential complementary treatment modality for stroke survivors with hand impairment.

Animal-assisted interventions in adult hospital rehabilitation settings: A scoping review.

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have the potential to enhance people's well-being and function and are increasingly being implemented across a range of settings. This scoping review explored how AAIs have been used in adult hospital rehabilitative care. Using JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search of four databases was undertaken. Inclusion criteria involved adults, aged >18 years, who had received AAIs in the hospital rehabilitation setting. Twenty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Results identified two intervention types: visitation activities (n = 8 studies) and structured therapeutic interventions (n = 14 studies). Dogs were the most common animal species. Improvements in social and emotional well-being were reported across both types of interventions, with improvements in ambulation, motor skills, and verbal communication reported by those engaged in structured therapeutic interventions. Implementation challenges included a dependency on volunteer dog-handlers; the need for better recording of interventions in medical records to enable evaluation; and cost, safety, infection control, and animal welfare considerations. Strengthening the planning of AAIs is fundamental for the realization of potential outcomes from human-animal interactions in hospital rehabilitative care.

On-road driving remediation following acquired brain injury: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the relationship between on-road driving remediation and achieving fitness to drive following acquired brain injury. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Tertiary hospital outpatient driver assessment and rehabilitation service, Australia. Participants Thirty-five participants (54.3% male), aged 18–65 years, 41 days-20 years post-acquired brain injury (including stroke, aneurysm, traumatic brain injury) recommended for on-road driving remediation following occupational therapy driver assessment were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 18) and waitlist control (n = 17) groups. Intervention Intervention group received on-road driving remediation delivered by a qualified driving instructor in a dual-control vehicle. The waitlist control group completed a 6 week period of no driving-related remediation. Main measure Fitness to drive rated following the conduct of an on-road occupational therapy driver assessment with a qualified driving instructor where outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Results The intervention group were significantly more likely to achieve a fit to drive recommendation than no driving specific intervention (p = 0.003). Conclusion Following comprehensive assessment, individualized on-road driving remediation programs devised by an occupational therapist with advanced training in driver assessment and rehabilitation and delivered by a qualified driving instructor are significantly associated with achieving fitness to drive after acquired brain injury.

Comparison of Diagnosis-Related Group Rehabilitation Reimbursement Payments With Those of a Novel Patient Classification-Based Payment System

ObjectiveTo compare the difference of reimbursement payments between diagnosis-related group (DRG) and a novel patient classification-based payment system, diagnosis-intervention packet (DIP), among rehabilitation inpatients in tertiary hospitals. DesignRetrospective cohort study. SettingTTertiary hospitals in Shenzhen, China. ParticipantsWe assessed the records of 268,362 individuals who visited tertiary hospitals providing rehabilitation services. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresThe outcome variable was the patients’ rehabilitation hospitalization cost of in our study. A quantile regression analysis was conducted to estimate the effects of DIP payment on the rehabilitation hospitalization cost. ResultsThe results showed that the predicted marginal hospitalization cost with DRG payment were 9%, 7%, 14%, and 10% higher than that with DIP payments in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The total difference in predicted marginal hospitalization cost between DRG and DIP was −1269 RMB (−193 USD). This difference in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 was −1419 RMB (−228 USD), −1088 RMB (−158 USD), −1585 RMB (−246 USD), and −1034 RMB (−154 USD), respectively. All differences in predicted marginal hospitalization cost between DRG and DIP was significant (P<.001), after controlling for patients’ age, sex, public or private hospital, the type of disease, and the length of stay of hospitalization. ConclusionsThe findings of DIP payment reduced the rehabilitation hospitalization cost would be helpful in developing more effectively and efficiently tailored interventions for rehabilitation health care in China. Furthermore, the results of this study could provide advice on building more effective strategies and intervention options for other countries that struggle with controlling rehabilitation hospitalization costs.