I really don't trust this paper, it seems to be most useful for reducing hospital costs by kicking patients out early. And that could easily be proven by cherry picking the correct patients to enroll.
Home-based telesurveillance and rehabilitation after stroke: a real-life study
- DOI:
- 10.1080/10749357.2015.1120453
- Received: 8 Jun 2015
- Accepted: 23 Aug 2015
- Published online: 14 Dec 2015
Abstract
Background:
After discharge from in-hospital rehabilitation, post-stroke patients
should have the opportunity to continue the rehabilitation through
structured programs to maintain the benefits acquired during intensive
rehabilitation treatment.
Objective: The primary objective was to
evaluate the feasibility of implementing an home-based telesurveillance
and rehabilitation (HBTR) program to optimize the patient's recovery by
reducing dependency degree.Method: Post-stroke patients were consecutively screened. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). 26 patients enrolled: 15 were sub-acute (time since stroke: 112 ± 39 days) and 11 were chronic (time since stroke: 470 ± 145 days). For 3 months patients were followed at home by a nurse-tutor, who provided structured phone support and vital signs telemonitoring, and by a physiotherapist (PT) who monitored rehabilitation sessions by videoconferencing.
Results: 23 patients completed the program; 16.7 ± 5.2 phone contacts/patient were initiated by the nurse and 0.9 ± 1.8 by the patients. Eight episodes of atrial fibrillation that required a change in therapy were recorded in two patients. Physiotherapists performed 1.2 ± 0.4 home visits, 1.6 ± 0.9 phone calls and 4.5 ± 2.8 videoconference-sessions per patient. At least three sessions/week of home exercises were performed by 31% of patients, two sessions by 54%. At the end of the program, global functional capacity improved significantly (P < 0.001), in particular, static (P < 0.001) and dynamic (P = 0.0004) postural balance, upper limb dexterity of the paretic side (P = 0.01), and physical performance (P = 0.002). Symptoms of depression and caregiver strain also improved.
Conclusion:
The home-based program was feasible and effective in both sub-acute and
chronic post-stroke patients, improving their recovery, and maintaining
the benefits reached during inpatient rehabilitation
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