More Appropriate, Practical Outcome Measures in Clinical Trials for Rehabilitation: A Survey of Medical Literature from 1996-2005

抄録

This study aimed to characterize outcome measures used in trials of rehabilitation for stroke patients using the "International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)". We investigated descriptions of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1996 and 2005. We then identified and classified outcome measures into three ICF-based categories: "body functions and structure," "activities and participation," and "other." Within rehabilitation RCTs, 21 focused on community residents and 20 focused on hospitalized patients. We identified 215 mentions of the measures in total and 103 types were used in 41 stroke rehabilitation RCTs from 1996-2005. Of the 41 articles, 7 were RCTs of occupational therapy while 6 RCTs focused on community residents. The percentage of outcome measures in the domain of "body functions and structures" has increased since ICF adoption. It is necessary to demonstrate evidence that outcome measures are useful in patient-oriented decision-making in occupational therapy and rehabilitation.