The Time Use and Activity Levels of Inpatients in a Co-located Acute and Rehabilitation Stroke Unit: An Observational Study

Abstract

These data provide a baseline for comparison following implementation of more practice change. A trained team of health professionals was able to reliably collect data.

Exploring staff experience of an “enriched environment” within stroke rehabilitation: a qualitative sub-study

“…Staff attributed these results to patients experiencing increased stimulation, socialisation and less boredom. These findings reflect both existing data indicating that stroke patients in rehabilitation wards spend less than a fifth of their time in therapy and spend the majority of their day inactive and alone [34,36] and results from the EE implementation showing dramatic increases in activity following EE implementation [28]. Reports of improved mood in patients is consistent with research highlighting the need for community engagement, participation in meaningful activity and social interaction as essential in maintaining health in the stroke survivor [37].…”

“…Stroke rehabilitation is integral to stroke recovery and involves the delivery of therapies to prevent further functional deterioration and secondary complications, and aims to maximise restoration of function and activity participation [1]. However, stroke patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation spend very little of the day engaged in activity relating to functional recovery [8,34]. Indeed, much of their waking hours are spent being inactive and alone [8].…”

Structure and feasibility of extra practice during stroke rehabilitation: A systematic scoping review

“…Unsupervised practice was reported in only three of the 40 comparisons. That finding is consistent with observational studies showing that stroke inpatients are more likely to practice when a therapist is present (Ada et al ., ; King et al ., ). Stroke survivors on rehabilitation units have described the time outside of therapy as ‘dead and wasted’ (Eng, Brauer, Kuys, Lord & Hayward, ), while carers suggest that this inactivity may be partly due to ‘not knowing what they could be doing themselves’ outside of structured therapy time (Eng et al .).…”

“…Most time is spent at the bedside with little time spent in therapy areas (Lincoln, Willis, Philips, Juby & Berman, 1996). On weekends activity levels are even lower (King, McCluskey & Schurr, 2011;Mackey, Ada, Heard & Adams, 1996).…”

A professional development program increased the intensity of practice undertaken in an inpatient, upper limb rehabilitation class: A pre‐post study

“…Research has consistently shown that rehabilitation programs rarely provide sufficient motor training activity (i.e. consistent with recommended amounts from national clinical practice guidelines (Bernhardt, Dewey, Thrift & Donnan, 2004;Janssen et al, 2014;Kaur, English & Hillier, 2013;King, McCluskey & Schurr, 2011)) and that much of the opportunity for active practice occurs during time with a therapist (Ada, Mackey, Heard & Adams, 1999;Skarin et al, 2013). These studies highlight the importance of increasing the amount of rehabilitation provided.…”