Huan-Jui Yeh1, Ting-An Chen, Hui-Chen Cheng, Yiing-Jenq Chou, Nicole Huang. 1. From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan (H-JY, T-AC); Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-JY, Y-JC); Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); Program in Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, School of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); and Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (NH).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the frequency of patients receiving rehabilitation services at various periods after stroke and the possible medical barriers to receiving rehabilitation. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a nationally representative sample in Taiwan. A total of 14,600 stroke patients between 2005 and 2011 were included. Utilization of physical therapy or occupational therapy at different periods after stroke onset was the outcome variable. Individual and geographic characteristics were investigated to determine their effect on patients' probability of receiving rehabilitation. RESULTS: More severe stroke or more comorbid diseases increased the odds of receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy; older age was associated with decreased odds. Notably, sex and stroke type influenced the odds of rehabilitation only in the early period. Copayment exemption lowered the odds of rehabilitation in the first 6 mos but increased the odds in later periods. Rural and suburban patients had significantly lower odds of receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy, as did patients living in areas with fewer rehabilitation therapists. CONCLUSIONS: Besides personal factors, geographic factors such as urban-rural gaps and number of therapists were significantly associated with the utilization of post-stroke rehabilitation care. Furthermore, the influence of certain factors, such as sex, stroke type, and copayment exemption type, changed over time.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the frequency of patients receiving rehabilitation services at various periods after stroke and the possible medical barriers to receiving rehabilitation. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a nationally representative sample in Taiwan. A total of 14,600 stroke patients between 2005 and 2011 were included. Utilization of physical therapy or occupational therapy at different periods after stroke onset was the outcome variable. Individual and geographic characteristics were investigated to determine their effect on patients' probability of receiving rehabilitation. RESULTS: More severe stroke or more comorbid diseases increased the odds of receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy; older age was associated with decreased odds. Notably, sex and stroke type influenced the odds of rehabilitation only in the early period. Copayment exemption lowered the odds of rehabilitation in the first 6 mos but increased the odds in later periods. Rural and suburban patients had significantly lower odds of receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy, as did patients living in areas with fewer rehabilitation therapists. CONCLUSIONS: Besides personal factors, geographic factors such as urban-rural gaps and number of therapists were significantly associated with the utilization of post-stroke rehabilitation care. Furthermore, the influence of certain factors, such as sex, stroke type, and copayment exemption type, changed over time.
Authors: Lisa A Simpson; Ruth Barclay; Mark T Bayley; Sean P Dukelow; Bradley J MacIntosh; Marilyn MacKay-Lyons; Carlo Menon; W Ben Mortenson; Tzu-Hsuan Peng; Courtney L Pollock; Sepideh Pooyania; Robert Teasell; Chieh-Ling Yang; Jennifer Yao; Janice J Eng Journal: Trials Date: 2022-02-08 Impact factor: 2.728