Article

Older adults discharging from inpatient rehabilitation were investigated to
determine change in self-efficacy at 1 month after discharge, the relationship
with discharge balance performance and physical function, and the influence of
diagnosis. A prospective cohort of 101 adults older than 50 years of age, 43%
men, average age 75.84 (SD 9.8) years, were recruited at discharge from inpatient
rehabilitation. Balance self-efficacy was assessed using Activities-specific
Balance Confidence (ABC) scale at discharge and 1 month following discharge.
Balance and physical function were measured at discharge using the Functional
Independence Measure, Balance Outcome Measure for Elder Rehabilitation, Modified
Elderly Mobility Scale and gait speed. At discharge, balance self-efficacy was
moderate (ABC score 62, SD 23) and did not change at follow-up. When grouped by
discharge self-efficacy (ABC scores: low<50; moderate 51-80; high>80),
significant between-group differences were found for balance (P=0.005) and
physical function (P=0.035). At the 1-month follow-up, those with low discharge
balance self-efficacy showed improvement (mean-change ABC score 12, 95%
confidence interval 2-22) and those with high discharge balance self-efficacy had
lower scores (mean-change ABC score 18, 95% confidence interval -8 to -28).
Differences in ABC change scores were also found between diagnostic groups
(F=3.740, P=0.03), with the orthopaedic group improving (ABC mean change=8) and
the general frailty group showing a decrease in confidence (ABC mean change=10).
The differences in balance self-efficacy change at 1 month following discharge
were related to self-efficacy level at discharge and clinical group requiring
rehabilitation. Clinicians need to be aware of these changes as patients are
prepared for discharge.

Langue : ANGLAIS