A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial of Brain-Activating Rehabilitation in an Acute Hospital

Would this Brain-Activating Rehabilitation be helpful for stroke survivors? We'll never know.
http://aja.sagepub.com/content/31/8/612?etoc

1. Kenji Tsuchiya, MHSc1⇑
2. Tomoharu Yamaguchi, PhD2
3. Takaaki Fujita, MOT3
4. Maya Taguchi1
5. Aoi Honda1
6. Yuki Satou1
7. Hiroshi Sekiguchi1
8. Noriko Kimura1
9. Tenshi Osawa, PhD1
10. Masanori Terauchi, PhD1

1. ¹Department of Rehabilitation, Japan Community Healthcare Organization, Gunma Chuo Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
2. ²Department of Rehabilitation, Gunma University of Health and Welfare, Maebashi, Japan
3. ³Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tohoku Fukushi University, Sendai, Japan

1. Kenji Tsuchiya, MHSc, Department of Rehabilitation, Japan Community Healthcare Organization, Gunma Chuo Hospital, 1-7-13 Kouun-cho, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0025, Japan. Email: kbkjs933@yahoo.co.jp

Abstract

We aimed to confirm the effectiveness of brain-activating rehabilitation (BAR) performed in the day care setting at an acute hospital. Brain-activating rehabilitation is based on 5 principles: developing a pleasant atmosphere, promoting communication, praising patients, giving patients a social role, and providing supportive care. A total of 48 patients with dementia or cognitive impairment were selected and randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The BAR-based intervention was conducted for 1 hour, 3 times a week. The patients’ score of the Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects (MOSES) were used as outcome measures. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance detected a significant interaction between the MOSES disorientation (F = 4.437, P = .041) and the withdrawal (F = 5.052, P = .030) subscales. A BAR-based intervention performed at our acute hospital was effective at maintaining and improving the cognitive and psychosocial functioning of patients with dementia or cognitive impairment.