Leigh Tooth

This study describes the rehabilitation length of stay (LOS), discharge destination and discharge functional status of 149 patients admitted with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to an Australian hospital over a 5-year period. Hospital charts of patients admitted between 1993-1998 were reviewed. Average LOS over the 5-year time period was 61.8 days and only decreased nominally over this time. Longer LOS was predicted by lower admission motor FIM scores and presence of comorbidities. Mean admission and discharge motor FIM scores were 58 and 79, which represented a gain of 21 points. Higher discharge motor FIM scores were predicted by higher admission motor FIM scores and younger age. FIM gain was predicted by cognitive status and age. Most patients, 88%, were discharged back to the community, with 30% changing their living setting or situation. Changing living status was predicted by living alone and having poorer functional status on admission.

Retrospective. To predict satisfaction with medical rehabilitation. While spinal cord injury (SCI) patient satisfaction with life and community services has been investigated, satisfaction with medical rehabilitation has not. Information submitted to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (1998-2001) by 134 hospitals/rehabilitation facilities in the United States (n = 6,205 patients with SCI) was examined. Predictors were sociodemographic variables, Case Mix Groupings (CMG) (401-505, 5001), length of stay, rehospitalization, follow-up therapy, and health maintenance. Satisfaction was assessed at a mean of 92.2 days (SD 11.9 days) postdischarge. Data were analyzed according to who reported the outcome (patient, n = 3,858 or family/other, n = 1,869). Statistical modeling was conducted using logistic regression. High overall satisfaction was reported (94%). Significant predictors for the patient report data were CMG and rehospitalization. Compared with CMG 5001 (short stay, <3 days), patients in CMGs 401/2/3 and 501/2/3/4/5 had a 54% to 74% lower likelihood of being dissatisfied. Rehospitalized patients had a higher likelihood of dissatisfaction (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 3.2). Significant predictors for the family/other report data were CMG (compared to CMG 5001, CMGs 401/2, 403, and 501/2 had a 70% lower likelihood of dissatisfaction), rehospitalization (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.5), and marital status (married = 50% lower likelihood of dissatisfaction, 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.96). Satisfaction with medical rehabilitation services following SCI is related to functional abilities, rehospitalization, and marital status. Slightly different results were found for whether satisfaction was rated by the patient or family/other. The complex relationships among satisfaction, patient demographics, and functional status require continued examination.

Outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by a high degree of variability which has often been difficult to capture in traditional outcome studies. The purpose of this study was to describe patterns of community integration 2-5 years after TBI. Participants were 208 patients admitted to a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit between 1991-1995 in Brisbane, Australia. The design comprised retrospective data collection and questionnaire follow-up by mail. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years. Demographic, injury severity and functional status variables were retrieved from hospital records. Community integration was assessed using the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ), and vocational status measured by a self administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using cluster analysis which divided the data into meaningful subsets. Based on the CIQ subscale scores of home, social and productive integration, a three cluster solution was selected, with groups labelled as working (n = 78), balanced (n = 46) and poorly integrated (n = 84). Although 38% of the sample returned to a high level of productive activity and 22% achieved a balanced lifestyle, overall community integration was poor for the remainder. This poorly integrated group had more severe injury characterized by longer periods of acute care and post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) and greater functional disability on discharge. These findings have implications for service delivery prior to and during the process of reintegration after brain injury.

Interpretation of changes in health and health care utilization patterns across the life span depends on an understanding of the effects of age, period, and cohort. The purpose of this article is to illustrate differences among three generations of women in demographic factors, health risk factors, and health status indicators from 1996 to 2008. The article examines data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, a broad-ranging project funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) and involving three age groups of women (born in the periods 1973-1978, 1946-1951, and 1921-1926) who were first surveyed in 1996 and will be surveyed every 3 years until at least 2015. Patterns in selected demographic factors (marital status and level of educational qualification), health risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and body mass index [BMI]), and health status indicators (asthma, hypertension, diabetes and depression; physical functioning and mental health scores from the SF-36) were examined to illustrate examples of biological age, generational differences, or period effects that affect all age groups and generations simultaneously. The results can be used to inform the development of responsive and effective models for both prevention and management of chronic disease, including health and aged-care systems that will meet the needs of different generations of women across their life span.

To examine the association between gain in motor and cognitive functional status with patient satisfaction 3-6 mo after rehabilitation discharge. Patient satisfaction and changes in functional status were examined in 18,375 patients with stroke who received inpatient medical rehabilitation. Information was obtained from 144 hospitals and rehabilitation facilities contributing records to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation and the National Follow-up Services. Data analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences in satisfaction responses based on whether information was collected from patient self-report or from a family member proxy, and the two subsets were analyzed separately. Logistic regression revealed the following significant predictors of satisfaction for data collected from stroke patients: cognitive and motor gain, rehospitalization, who the patient was living with at follow-up, age, and follow-up therapy. In the patient-reported data subset, compared with patients who showed improved cognitive or motor functional status, those with no change, respectively, had a 31% and 33% reduced risk of dissatisfaction. In addition, rehospitalized patients had a higher risk of dissatisfaction. For the proxy reported data subset, significant influences on satisfaction were health maintenance, rehospitalization, stroke type, ethnicity, cognitive FIM gain, length of stay, and follow-up therapy. Ratings of satisfaction with rehabilitation services were affected by change in functional status and whether the information was collected from patient rating or proxy response.