Effectiveness of ICF-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach with serial assessment and discussion using the ICF rehabilitation set in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

This study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach with serial assessment and discussion with the ICF rehabilitation set. This prospective cohort study included consecutive patients admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward during the period between 1 August 2017 and 30 September 2018. Serial assessment and discussion with the ICF rehabilitation set every 2 weeks in each patient commenced from 1 April 2018. We analyzed the difference in the Extension Index of the ICF rehabilitation set between the periods before the assessment of the ICF rehabilitation set (prior period) and after that (post-period). The change of the Extension Index of the ICF rehabilitation set was higher in patients of the post-period group (n = 59) compared with those of the prior period group (n = 45) (mean 31.6, SD 18.5 vs. mean 17.3, SD 18.4, respectively; 95% confidence interval for the difference 7.0-21.5). Multiple regression analysis showed that serial assessment by the ICF rehabilitation set was independently associated with the improvement of the Extension Index. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach combined with serial assessment and discussion using the ICF rehabilitation set was associated with favorable recovery. Our study highlighted the effectiveness of ICF-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation in a clinical setting.