Feasibility and Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Nursing for Acute Stroke

Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Modified Barthel Index-based Rehabilitation Nursing Program for Acute Ischemic Stroke

In the clinical setting, it is difficult to obtain effective rehabilitation during the acute phase, the reasons may include insufficient awareness of early rehabilitation due mainly to a limitation in number and variety of rehabilitation professionals in Low- and middle-income countries. It is necessary to shift tasks to other healthcare providers who are trained to provide rehabilitation like nurses. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a modified Barthel Index based rehabilitation nursing program on acute stroke inpatients.

Ischemic stroke is the main cause of disability in the world. More than 70% of stroke patients show various degrees of neural function impairment. Early rehabilitation in acute phase is beneficial for improving patient's activity of daily livings and motor function. However, it is difficult to obtain effective rehabilitation during the acute phase of stroke because of the insufficiency of professional rehabilitation therapists in stroke wards in China. The investigators assume that implementing program based on modified Barthel Index can realize nursing-directed motor rehabilitation during acute phase of ischemic stroke. The present study is to conduct quasi-experimental research to confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of nursing-directed precision rehabilitation in acute stroke patients.

The intervention with the program based on the MBI classified function of patients into five levels, with every 20 points as a level, Each level corresponds to different training items. Training items included self-care training and training in transfer activities, sitting balance, walking, and sit-to-stand, etc. Each training session lasting at least 30 minutes, two sessions per day, for seven continuous days. During the intervention, the rehabilitation therapist's conventional treatment is not interfered.

Patients in the control group received clinical usual care including the activities of daily living assessment, early mobilization guide and health education. During the intervention, the rehabilitation therapist's conventional treatment is not interfered.

The MAS scale excluding general tonus, may be summed to provide an overall score out of a possible 48 points and the higher scores mean a better outcome.

Inclusion Criteria: diagnosed with ischemic stroke and met the diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization; initial stroke within seven days, with limb dysfunction; NIHSS scale consciousness scores of 0 or 1; provided informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: incomplete clinical data; having a physical disability or other diseases that affect the limb function; having cognitive impairment or other diseases that interfere with participation; having serious cardiopulmonary dysfunction or another disease that requires absolute bed rest; having progressive stroke or having severe complications that patients drop the study before completion.