2013 Volume 4 Pages 55-60
Kawasaki Y, Tsuchida Y, Yamaga M, Koga H, Nakamura T, Nose Y, Iiyama J. Relationship between therapists’ years of experience and Functional Independence Measure gain and efficiency in stroke rehabilitation. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2013; 4:55-60.
Objective: This study aimed to clarify whether or not the years of experience of physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) influences rehabilitation treatment results as quantified using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).
Methods: The subjects were PTs and OTs who took care of 354 cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients. With motor FIM gain and motor FIM efficiency as the evaluation scales, the following three combinations were evaluated: 1) FIM gain and efficiency on transfers, locomotion, and stairs, and PTs’ years of experience; 2) FIM gain and efficiency in eating, grooming, bed bath, dressing, toilet behavior, urination management, and defecation management, and OTs’ years of experience; and 3) motor FIM gain and motor FIM efficiency on all items and years of experience (PTs’ + OTs’). Results were analyzed using simple regression, multiple regression, and stratified simple regression.
Results: A weakly positive relationship was observed between a PT’s years of experience and motor FIM gain in moderately impaired patients. No relationship was observed between an OT’s years of experience and motor FIM gain. There was no relationship between years of experience and motor FIM efficiency.
Conclusion: These results suggest that activities of daily living involving the lower limbs are influenced by a PT’s years of experience.
