Variables Associated with Occupational and Physical Therapy Stroke Rehabilitation Utilization and Outcomes
Cook, Chad, Stickley, Lois, Ramey, Kevin, Knotts, Valerie J., Journal of Allied Health
Many studies have reported the benefits of a comprehensive stroke team including occupational therapy/physical therapy (OT/PT) services; however, factors associated with access to these services are less known. This study used a subsample of the Health and Retirement Study database, a cross-sectional survey of more than 11,126 Americans aged 65 to 106 years within the contiguous United States. The purposes of this study were to determine the associational factors that contribute to attending OT/PT and determine if attending OT/PT leads to a reduced report of stroke-related problems. The findings indicated that fewer than 10% of stroke survivors in a noninstitutionalized, community-based setting were currently accessing OT/PT. Additionally, access to OT/PT services was highly associated with report of having an attending physician, report of stroke-related weakness, higher monthly income, and older age. The increased odds of reported continued problems associated with a past stroke were associated with failure to access OT/PT services, lower monthly income, Hispanic culture, and age. OT/PT services were typically provided to patients who reported a higher level of physical dysfunction. Despite the greater degree of severity, OT/PT intervention led to reports of lower levels of disability and problems over time. J Allied Health 2005; 34:3-10.
STROKE IS THE leading cause of disability among older adults in the United States and accounts for costly and extensive use of rehabilitation services.1 As stroke survival improves, treatment of stroke-related impairments, functional limitations, and disability become more important. More people survive stroke and return to the community if they have mild to moderate deficits; however, functional outcomes in these individuals remain limited.2 Three months following the onset of stroke, 17% of survivors remain dependent in personal care and 50% are fully independent in personal care. Six months following the onset of stroke, 50% of survivors are dependent in instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) (e.g., self-administration of medication, meal preparation) and only 33% are independent in community mobility.2 Individuals with high levels of recovery (Barthel index of ≥95) continue to have disability related to hand function, performance of basic and instrumental activities of daily living, physical functioning, and participation.' The mean cost of acute management of stroke over a 12-week period is $13,668, with more than 70% of the total cost expended in the initial hospitalization (mean length of stay, 24 days).4 The need for outpatient occupational therapy/physical therapy (OT/PT) following acute rehabilitation may increase the probability of further functional improvement.1
Individuals who survive stroke and receive rehabilitation services in the acute and subacute stages of recovery generally experience improved short-term and long-term survival, experience higher function, return home, and may experience an improved quality of life.5 Early intervention generally includes the multidisciplinary efforts of a sophisticated, dedicated stroke team consisting of medical, pharmaceutical, and rehabilitation personnel/1" The key characteristics of stroke units include teamwork, staff education, functional training, integrated therapies, and nursing.5 Although ample evidence is associated with early multidisciplinary rehabilitative intervention,10,12-16 data pertaining to benefits coupled with specific rehabilitation (i.e., OT/PT) processes are sparse.7,17
Many stroke survivors receive outpatient or community-based care, which may or may not include OT/PT services.10,12 Determination of whether OT/PT services are utilized is often beyond the control of the stroke survivor and rehabilitation clinician. Although direct -access to OT/PT exists in several states within the United States, there are few third'party payers, including Medicare, that allow reimbursement of services without a physician referral. …