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 III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Authors (including presenting author) :
LAU TS (1), CHUNG PH (1), LAU FO (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Physiotherapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
Recovery of walking ability is important for stroke patients because it increases the likelihood of discharge and is the essential basis to achieve functional independence. Ambulation training distance provides a tangible measure of progress that directly relates to a patient's ability to walk independently in real-world scenarios.
Objectives :
To determine the relationship between ambulation training distance(m) and discharge functional ambulation ability using the MFAC for sub-acute stroke patients, and to determine the ambulation training distance achieved for a clinical significant improvement on functional ambulation ability.
Methodology :
The design was a retrospective study conducted in TPH. A total of 87 stroke patients were assigned into Non-Assisted Walker group and Assisted Walker group according to their discharge MFAC. The correlation between ambulation training distance and discharge MFAC, and the between-group differences in ambulation training distance, functional outcomes of MFAC, MRMI and BBS were analyzed.
Result & Outcome :
The ambulation training distance achieved in Non-Assisted Walker group was significant (p < 0.001) higher that of Assisted Walker group. The ambulation training distance achieved in Non-Assisted Walker group and Assisted Walker group were 3190m + 2636 and 1178m + 1145 respectively. There were significant between-group differences (p < 0.001) in discharge MRMI and BBS indicating that Non-Assisted Walker group achieved better functional outcomes at discharge compared to Assisted Walker group. The ambulation training distance achieved for both groups had moderate correlations with discharge MFAC (r= 0.53, p < 0.001), discharge MRMI (r= 0.54, p < 0.001) and discharge BBS (r= 0.47, p < 0.001) respectively. The results suggested that higher ambulation training intensity, as reflected by greater ambulation training distance achieved, is associated with higher levels of walking ability at discharge and better functional outcomes.
