Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung CM, Chan SP, Wong TM, Chak NT, Leung KL
Affiliation :
Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction :
The growing aging population and an increase in the number of individuals living alone pose significant challenges in improving functional independence of elderlies and home safety in the society. Community-based services play a crucial role in addressing challenges faced by elderly individuals particularly during the transition period after hospital discharge. Physiotherapy for Integrated Care and Discharge Support (ICDS) in elderly patients aims to facilitate early discharge and improve their self-reliance and quality-of-life.
Objectives :
To investigate the effectiveness of ICDS Physiotherapy services on functional mobility and independency of patients who live alone or spend their daytime alone.
Methodology :
A 3-year retrospective review was conducted to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients who lived alone or spent their daytime alone after receiving ICDS Physiotherapy services. Physiotherapist collected scores of the Modified Functional Ambulation Classification (MFAC) for functional mobility, Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for functional independency during initial and final home-visits (HV) sessions. SPSS 23.0 was used for analysis.
Result & Outcome :
The study included a total of 57 cases with a mean age of 76.9 ± 9.73 years. The intervention of ICDS Physiotherapy services led to a significant improvement in both MBI (initial HV: 93.3 ± 7.44; final HV: 96.2 ± 5.47; p < 0.05) and MFAC (p < 0.05). At Initial HV, MFAC (3.5% assisted walkers (n=2), 10.5% supervised walkers (n=6), 44% indoor walkers (n=25), and 42% outdoor walkers (n=24) was determined. Results revealed a significant improvement of MFAC at final HV (p < 0.05) with 30% of patients (n=17) improving one category of MFAC. At final HV, it progresses from 42% to 63% of the patients (n=36) were able to walk outdoors independently. ICDS Physiotherapy significantly improves the ability of patients who live or spend their daytime alone to walk independently by improving the outcomes and functional independency. The ability to walk independently outdoors after discharge enhances their independence, community reintegration, and autonomy. This promotes their physical and psychological well-being by allowing them to take care of themselves and make decisions without constant supervision. The ICDS Physiotherapy highlights the need for continuous support and resources for community-based initiatives for those with lack of or limited constant carer support.
