Difficulty of the subtasks comprising bed-wheelchair transfer in patients with subacute strokes: A cohort study

Time-course for acquiring transfer independence in patients with subacute stroke: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the time-course of longitudinal changes in the independence level of subtasks composing bed-wheelchair transfer among patients with stroke.

DESIGN

Single-institution prospective cohort study.

PATIENTS

A total of 137 consecutive post-stroke patients using wheelchair on admission to the subacute rehabilitation wards.

METHODS

The independence degree in each of the 25 transfer-related subtasks was assessed using the Bed-Wheelchair Transfer Tasks Assessment Form on a three-level scale every two weeks, from admission to the endpoint (either discharge or when achieving independent transfer). Patients were classified based on admission and endpoint assessment form scores using two-step cluster analysis.

RESULTS

Patients were classified into three clusters. The first cluster included 50 patients who exhibited a greater independence level in all subtasks on admission (52.0-100% of patients performed each subtask independently) and at the endpoint (64.0-100%). The second included 30 patients who showed less independence on admission (0-27.8%) but achieved greater independence levels at the endpoint (44.4-97.2%). The third included 51 patients whose independence level remained low in many subtasks from admission (0-5.8%) until the endpoint (0-29.4%).

CONCLUSION

The independence level and its changing process during transfer were categorized into three time-courses, each requiring different intervention strategies.

Kinematic analysis of preparation for transferring from wheelchair to bed

This study aimed to clarify the kinematics, particularly of the shoulder and hip joints, during preparation for manual wheelchair-to-bed transfer (i.e. when flipping up the arm and foot supports). This cross-sectional study included 32 able-bodied individuals. The kinematics of the shoulder and hip joints when the arm and foot supports were flipped up of manual wheelchair, were evaluated using a markerless inertial sensor-based motion capture system. We found that flipping the arm support upwards involved a large amount of abduction, internal and external rotation, flexion, and extension at the shoulder joint, whereas flipping the foot support upwards involved a large amount of flexion at the hip joint. The findings suggest that it is necessary to consider the range of motion required to flip up the arm and foot supports of manual wheelchairs, particularly in those with limited shoulder and hip range of motion such as older people, neuromuscular disorders, and orthopedic disorders.

Should Patients Be Confident in Their Efficacy in Improving Their Functional Abilities After a Stroke?

Background Patients' self-confidence in their abilities needs to be improved to achieve functional abilities after a stroke. Self-efficacy is a prerequisite for self-management after a stroke. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between self-efficacy and the functional abilities of post-stroke patients. Methodology This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted over two months. A total of 145 respondents were recruited using the convenience sampling method. Respondents were post-stroke patients who had undergone the post-stroke phase during the first three to six months since the acute stroke. Data collection was performed through questionnaire interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and Spearman correlation. Results There was a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and functional independence (p < 0.05). Conclusions Self-efficacy influences motivation to perform activities of daily living, which can increase the achievement of functional abilities.

Differences in the difficulty of subtasks comprising the toileting task among patients with subacute stroke: A cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Toileting comprises multiple subtasks, and the difficulty of each is critical to determining the target and priority of intervention. The study aimed to examine the difficulty of subtasks that comprise toileting upon admission and the reacquisition of skills of subtasks during hospitalization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a single-center prospective cohort study. We enrolled 101 consecutive stroke patients (mean age: 69.3 years) admitted to subacute rehabilitation wards. The independence in each of the 24 toileting subtasks was assessed using the Toileting Tasks Assessment Form (TTAF) every two or four weeks. The number of patients who were independent upon admission, as well as those who were not independent upon admission but became independent during hospitalization, was examined in each subtask.

RESULTS

The most difficult subtask upon admission was "Lock the wheelchair brakes" (16.8% of patients were independent), followed by "Turn while standing (before urination/defecation)" (17.8%), "Pull the lower garments down" (18.0%), "Turn while standing (after urination/defecation)" (18.8%), "Pull the lower garments up and adjust them" (18.8%), and "Maintain a standing position (before urination/defecation)" (18.8%). The most difficult subtask for those who were not independent but became independent was "Dispose of incontinence pad/sanitary items" (19.3%), followed by "Press the nurse call button (after urination/defecation)" (28.3%), "Take the foot off the footrest and place it on the ground" (28.6%), and "Clean up after urination/defecation" (29.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

The difficult subtasks upon admission and those for reacquired skills were different. The most difficult subtasks upon admission were main tasks, and the difficult subtasks in reacquiring skills were preparatory tasks.