Self-managed occupational therapy and physiotherapy for adults receiving inpatient rehabilitation ('My Therapy'): protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial

Outcomes of the My Therapy self-management program in people admitted for rehabilitation: A stepped wedge cluster randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Self-management programs can increase the time spent on prescribed therapeutic exercises and activities in rehabilitation inpatients, which has been associated with better functional outcomes and shorter hospital stays.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether implementation of a self-management program ('My Therapy') improves functional independence relative to routine care in people admitted for physical rehabilitation.

METHODS

This stepped wedge, cluster randomized trial was conducted over 54 weeks (9 periods of 6-week duration, April 2021 - April 2022) across 9 clusters (general rehabilitation wards) within 4 hospitals (Victoria, Australia). We included all adults (≥18 years) admitted for rehabilitation to participating wards. The intervention included routine care plus 'My Therapy', comprising a sub-set of exercises and activities from supervised sessions which could be performed safely, without supervision or assistance. The primary outcomes were the proportion of participants achieving a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the Functional Independence Measure, (FIM™) and change in total FIM™ score from admission to discharge.

RESULTS

2550 participants (62 % women) were recruited (control: n = 1458, intervention: n = 1092), with mean (SD) age 77 (13) years and 37 % orthopedic diagnosis. Under intervention conditions, participants reported a mean (SD) of 29 (21) minutes/day of self-directed therapy, compared to 4 (SD 14) minutes/day, under control conditions. There was no evidence of a difference between control and intervention conditions in the odds of achieving an MCID in FIM™ (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95 % CI 0.65 to 1.31), or in the change in FIM™ score (adjusted mean difference: -0.27 units, 95 % CI -2.67 to 2.13).

CONCLUSIONS

My Therapy was delivered safely to a large, diverse sample of participants admitted for rehabilitation, with an increase in daily rehabilitation dosage. However, given the lack of difference in functional improvement with participation in My Therapy, self-management programs may need to be supplemented with other strategies to improve function in people admitted for rehabilitation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000313831), https://www.anzctr.org.au/.

Self-management Programs Within Rehabilitation Yield Positive Health Outcomes at a Small Increased Cost Compared With Usual Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine if self-management programs, supported by a health professional, in rehabilitation are cost effective.

DATA SOURCES

Six databases were searched until December 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials with adults completing a supported self-management program while participating in rehabilitation or receiving health professional input in the hospital or community settings were included. Self-management programs were completed outside the structured, supervised therapy and health professional sessions. Included trials had a cost measure and an effectiveness outcome reported, such as health-related quality of life or function. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations was used to determine the certainty of evidence across trials included in each meta-analysis. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated based on the mean difference from the meta-analyses of contributing health care costs and quality of life.

DATA EXTRACTION

After application of the search strategy, two independent reviewers determined eligibility of identified literature, initially by reviewing the title and/or abstract before full-text review. Using a customized form, data were extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Forty-three trials were included, and 27 had data included in meta-analyses. Where self-management was a primary intervention, there was moderate certainty of a meaningful positive difference in quality-of-life utility index of 0.03 units (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.06). The cost difference between self-management as the primary intervention and usual care (comprising usual intervention/therapy, minimal intervention [including education only], or no intervention) potentially favored the comparison group (mean difference=Australian dollar [AUD]90; 95% confidence interval, -AUD130 to AUD310). The cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for self-management programs as a stand-alone intervention was AUD3000, which was below the acceptable willingness-to-pay threshold in Australia per QALY gained (AUD50,000/QALY gained).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-management as an intervention is low cost and could improve health-related quality of life.

Reforming allied health service provision in residential aged care to improve the rehabilitation reach: a feasibility study

Objective My Therapy is an allied health guided, co-designed rehabilitation self-management program for residents of aged care facilities. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of implementing My Therapy in a residential aged care setting. Methods This observational study was conducted on a 30-bed wing, within a 90-bed metropolitan residential aged care facility, attached to a public health service, in Victoria, Australia. Staff and resident data were collected prospectively over 6 weeks (staff focus groups, patient surveys, and audits) to evaluate the feasibility domains of acceptability , reach and demand , practicality , integration , limited efficacy testing and adaptations . Results Twenty-six residents and five allied health staff (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) participated. My Therapy was acceptable to residents (survey) and staff (focus groups). Via initial My Therapy discussions between the resident and the therapists, to determine goals and resident preferences, My Therapy reached 26 residents (n  = 26/26, 100% program reach ), with 15 residents subsequently receiving a rehabilitation program (n  = 15/26, 58% program demand ). The remaining 11 residents did not participate due to resident preference or safety issues (n  = 11/26, 42%). Collecting physical function outcome measures for limited efficacy testing was practical , and the cost of My Therapy was AUD$6 per resident per day, suggesting financial integration may be possible. Several adaptations were required, due to limited allied health staff, complex resident goal setting and program co-design. Conclusion My Therapy has the potential to improve the rehabilitation reach of allied health services in residential aged care. While introducing this low-cost intervention is feasible, adaptations were required for successful implementation.

Barriers and facilitators to implementing self-directed therapy activities in inpatient rehabilitation settings

BACKGROUND

Self-directed therapy activities are not currently part of routine care during inpatient rehabilitation. Understanding patient and clinician perspectives on self-directed therapy is key to increasing implementation. The aim of this study was to investigate barriers and facilitators to implementing a self-directed therapy programme ("My Therapy") in adult inpatient rehabilitation settings.

METHODS

My Therapy was recommended by physiotherapists and occupational therapists and completed by rehabilitation inpatients independently, outside of supervised therapy sessions. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and patients were invited to complete an online questionnaire comprising open-ended questions on barriers and facilitators to prescribing and participating in My Therapy. A directed content analysis of free-text responses was undertaken, with data coded using categories of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM-B model).

RESULTS

Eleven patients and 20 clinicians completed the questionnaire. Patient capability was reported to be facilitated by comprehensive education by clinicians, with mixed attitudes towards the format of the programme booklet. Clinician capability was facilitated by staff collaboration. One benefit was the better use of downtime between the supervised therapy sessions, but opportunities for patients to engage in self-directed therapy were compromised by the lack of space to complete the programme. Clinician opportunity was reported to be provided via organisational support but workload was a reported barrier. Patient motivation to engage in self-directed therapy was reported to be fostered by feeling empowered, engaged, and encouraged to participate. Clinician motivation was associated with belief in the value of the programme.

CONCLUSION

Despite some barriers to rehabilitation patients independently practicing therapeutic exercises and activities outside of supervised sessions, both clinicians and patients agreed it should be considered as routine practice. To do this, patient time, ward space, and staff collaboration are required. Further research is needed to scale-up the implementation of the My Therapy programme and evaluate its effectiveness.

Self-managed occupational therapy and physiotherapy for adults receiving inpatient rehabilitation ('My Therapy'): protocol for a mixed-methods process evaluation

BACKGROUND

Process evaluations have been recommended alongside clinical and economic evaluations to enable an in-depth understanding of factors impacting results. My Therapy is a self-management program designed to augment usual care inpatient rehabilitation through the provision of additional occupational therapy and physiotherapy exercises and activities, for the patient to complete outside of supervised therapy. The aims of the process evaluation are to assess the implementation process by investigating fidelity, quality of implementation, acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility and adaptation of the My Therapy intervention; and identify contextual factors associated with variations in outcomes, including the perspectives and experiences of patients and therapists.

METHODS

The process evaluation will be conducted alongside the clinical and economic evaluation of My Therapy, within eight rehabilitation wards across two public and two private Australian health networks. All participants of the stepped wedge cluster randomised trial (2,160 rehabilitation patients) will be included in the process evaluation (e.g., ward audit); with a subset of 120 participants undergoing more intensive evaluation (e.g., surveys and activity logs). In addition, 24 staff (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) from participating wards will participate in the process evaluation. The mixed-methods study design will adopt a range of quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Data will be collected via a service profile survey and audits of clinical practice across the participating wards (considering areas such as staffing profiles and prescription of self-management programs). The intensive patient participant data collection will involve structured therapy participation and self-management program audits, Exercise Self Efficacy Scale, patient activity logs, patient surveys, and patient-worn activity monitors. Staff data collection will include surveys and focus groups.

DISCUSSION

The process evaluation will provide context to the clinical and economic outcomes associated with the My Therapy clinical trial. It considers how clinical and economic outcomes were achieved, and how to sustain the outcomes within the participating health networks. It will also provide context to inform future scaling of My Therapy to other health networks, and influence future models of rehabilitation and related policy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was prospectively registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000313831; registered 22/03/2021, http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380828&isReview=true ).