Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?

Objective. To assess whether acute stroke patients in rural hospitals receive less occupational therapy and physiotherapy than those in metropolitan hospitals. Design. Retrospective case-control study of health data in patients ≤10 days after stroke. Setting. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy s...

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Main Authors: Josie Merchant, Gemma Kitsos, Samantha Ashby, Alex Kitsos, Isobel J. Hubbard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Stroke Research and Treatment
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1582706
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author Josie Merchant
Gemma Kitsos
Samantha Ashby
Alex Kitsos
Isobel J. Hubbard
author_facet Josie Merchant
Gemma Kitsos
Samantha Ashby
Alex Kitsos
Isobel J. Hubbard
author_sort Josie Merchant
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To assess whether acute stroke patients in rural hospitals receive less occupational therapy and physiotherapy than those in metropolitan hospitals. Design. Retrospective case-control study of health data in patients ≤10 days after stroke. Setting. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy services in four rural hospitals and one metropolitan hospital. Participants. Acute stroke patients admitted in one health district. Main Outcome Measures. Frequency and duration of face-to-face and indirect therapy sessions. Results. Rural hospitals admitted 363 patients and metropolitan hospital admitted 378 patients. Mean age was 73 years. Those in rural hospitals received more face-to-face (p>0.0014) and indirect (p=0.001) occupational therapy when compared to those in the metropolitan hospital. Face-to-face sessions lasted longer (p=0.001). Patients admitted to the metropolitan hospital received more face-to-face (p>0.000) and indirect (p>0.000) physiotherapy when compared to those admitted to rural hospitals. Face-to-face sessions were shorter (p>0.000). Almost all were seen within 24 hours of referral. Conclusions. Acute stroke patients in Australian rural hospital may receive more occupational therapy and less physiotherapy than those in metropolitan hospitals. The dose of therapy was lower than recommended, and the referral process may unnecessarily delay the time from admission to a patient’s first therapy session.
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series Stroke Research and Treatment
spelling doaj-art-0a93577b79f04bdc83650a95ab5e01122025-08-20T02:03:08ZengWileyStroke Research and Treatment2090-81052042-00562016-01-01201610.1155/2016/15827061582706Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?Josie Merchant0Gemma Kitsos1Samantha Ashby2Alex Kitsos3Isobel J. Hubbard4Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, AustraliaNeurology Department, Hunter New England Area Health Service, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, AustraliaOccupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, AustraliaHunter New England Area Health Service, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, AustraliaSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, AustraliaObjective. To assess whether acute stroke patients in rural hospitals receive less occupational therapy and physiotherapy than those in metropolitan hospitals. Design. Retrospective case-control study of health data in patients ≤10 days after stroke. Setting. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy services in four rural hospitals and one metropolitan hospital. Participants. Acute stroke patients admitted in one health district. Main Outcome Measures. Frequency and duration of face-to-face and indirect therapy sessions. Results. Rural hospitals admitted 363 patients and metropolitan hospital admitted 378 patients. Mean age was 73 years. Those in rural hospitals received more face-to-face (p>0.0014) and indirect (p=0.001) occupational therapy when compared to those in the metropolitan hospital. Face-to-face sessions lasted longer (p=0.001). Patients admitted to the metropolitan hospital received more face-to-face (p>0.000) and indirect (p>0.000) physiotherapy when compared to those admitted to rural hospitals. Face-to-face sessions were shorter (p>0.000). Almost all were seen within 24 hours of referral. Conclusions. Acute stroke patients in Australian rural hospital may receive more occupational therapy and less physiotherapy than those in metropolitan hospitals. The dose of therapy was lower than recommended, and the referral process may unnecessarily delay the time from admission to a patient’s first therapy session.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1582706
spellingShingle Josie Merchant
Gemma Kitsos
Samantha Ashby
Alex Kitsos
Isobel J. Hubbard
Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?
Stroke Research and Treatment
title Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?
title_full Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?
title_fullStr Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?
title_full_unstemmed Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?
title_short Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Acute Stroke: Do Rural Patients Receive Less Therapy?
title_sort occupational therapy and physiotherapy in acute stroke do rural patients receive less therapy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1582706
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