Article

In some hospitals, patients exhibit significant heterogeneity of
function at admission and discharge.
The current study aims to assess if
concurrent usage of the Early Functional Assessment (EFA) and Functional
Independence Measure (FIM) is warranted and practical in rehabilitation centers
with diverse patient groups and outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study
examined a data set of all patients with concurrent EFA and FIM scores admitted
to a single rehabilitation center (4076 scores from 1251 patients). The patients
had acquired brain injury of multiple etiologies and a range of severities.
RESULTS: The EFA scale was more able to characterize the function of lower
functioning patients according to the FIM while the FIM scale was more able to
characterize the function of higher functioning patients according to the EFA.
This was highlighted by 21% of assessments with the lowest FIM score (18) having
corresponding EFA scores of 22-76 and 27% of assessments with the highest EFA
score (>90) having corresponding FIM scores of 38-126. CONCLUSIONS: In
rehabilitation centers with diverse patient groups and outcomes, the FIM and EFA
scale could be used to characterize the heterogeneity of function in patients
with acquired brain injury. The EFA/FIM scale could be used concurrently in
certain patients providing a more complete view of patients throughout the
rehabilitation process.

Langue : ANGLAIS