Combinative application of functional independence measure and quality of life assessment in clinical rehabilitation

Xiaochun HUANG; Zebing LI; Liben JIANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

With the development of China, quality of life (QOL) is getting more and more attention, however, there are few studies on QOL, especially in Mainland China.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the situation of combinative application of Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and QOL assessment in rehabilitation clinical practice.

DESIGN:

Case analysis.

SETTING:

Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University.

PARTICIPANTS:

Totally 83 rehabilitation patients selected from Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital from January to December 2003,consenting to take part in the study, were divided into 4 groups bone & joint rehabilitation(n=42), stroke rehabilitation (n=17), internal medicine (n=15), and cancer rehabilitation (n=9).

METHODS:

Every patient carried out functional independence assessment and quality of life measurement within 24 hours of admission. FIM was adopted for functional independence assessment which included 13 items of motor (ranged from 13 to 91 points) and 5 items of cognition (ranged from 5to 35 points), and FAQ for quality of life included making telephone call,self-care economy, shopping, using vehicle, housework, jobs, entertainment,etc. with 100 in total. The author performed all the assessment.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Every patient carried out FIM and FAQ assessment after admission and discharge.

RESULTS:

All data of totally 83 patients entered the final analysis. [1]The average age and length of hospital stay in stroke group were higher than those in other groups (P ＜ 0.01). [2] FIM motor and cognitive scores in stroke group were higher at discharge than those at admission (5.276,3.624;6.200,5.941,P ＜ 0.01), but scores of functional activity were lower at discharge than those at admission (1.253, 1.547, P ＜ 0.01). [3]In bone joint group, the FIM cognitive scores were coincidence in general, while motor scores were higher at discharge than those at admission (6.220,5.388, P ＜ 0.01), but scores of functional activity were lower at discharge than those at admission (0.610, 0.912, P ＜ 0.01). [4] Only scores of functional activity in tumor group were lower at discharge than those at admission (0.722, 0.989, P ＜ 0.05). [5] All items in internal medicine group were coincidence in general (P ＞ 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

FAQ is more sensitive than FIM in rehabilitation practice, but cannot replace FIM, and should be used with FIM.