2015 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 26
Purpose: To investigate the association between very early initiation of rehabilitation (VEI) and a rehabilitation provision system for acute stroke patients by performing an analysis according to the day of admission.
Methods: Data of stroke patients (n = 2,307; 8 hospitals) from the Japan Rehabilitation Patients Database in Japan were examined. The patients were divided into the following five groups according to the day of admission: (1) weekday with no holidays (Monday to Thursday), (2) weekday with a holiday, (3) Friday, (4) Saturday and Sunday, and (5) holiday. We defined VEI as rehabilitation commencing within 3 days of stroke admission. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate VEI, involvement of rehabilitation specialists as an attending doctor, and the ratio of rehabilitation staff members to beds.
Results: We found that VEI for acute stroke patients was significantly associated with involvement of a rehabilitation specialist and a high ratio of rehabilitation staff members to beds (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that when providing VEI for acute stroke patients, it may be effective to promote the involvement of a rehabilitation specialist as an attending doctor, and increase the number of rehabilitation staff members.
