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The Content of Physiotherapy and Factors Impacting on Reablement – A National Study

Olsson Möller, Ulrika LU ; Zingmark, Magnus LU orcid ; Ekstrand, Joakim and Haak, Maria LU (2023) In Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 16. p.3075-3088
Abstract

Purpose: Reablement is a multidisciplinary intervention aimed at promoting function and independence for people with functional decline. Detailed descriptions of various professions’ actions are needed for organization and evaluation of reablement services. This study describes physiotherapy practice in a reablement context in Swedish municipalities, focusing on the content and magnitude of interventions. Methods: Physiotherapists (n=108) from 34 municipalities answered a web-based survey covering the target group, content and duration of their actions, and number of contacts initiated over a 3-week period. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Results: Overall, 1005 cases were reported, with a... (More)

Purpose: Reablement is a multidisciplinary intervention aimed at promoting function and independence for people with functional decline. Detailed descriptions of various professions’ actions are needed for organization and evaluation of reablement services. This study describes physiotherapy practice in a reablement context in Swedish municipalities, focusing on the content and magnitude of interventions. Methods: Physiotherapists (n=108) from 34 municipalities answered a web-based survey covering the target group, content and duration of their actions, and number of contacts initiated over a 3-week period. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Results: Overall, 1005 cases were reported, with a mean age of 78.9 years (SD: 11.7); about 91% (n=912) were aged ≥65 and 61% (n=612) were women. About 70% were allocated to home care; 16% (n=160) of these had minor functional limitations (eg, needing safety alarms/help with domestic tasks), and 55% (n=550) had major functional limitations (eg, needing help with personal activities of daily living). The most reported actions were providing technical aids (60.8%, n=576), instructions/counseling (41.5%, n=393), walking/climbing stairs (27.6%, n=262), strength training (27.2%, n=258), and fall prevention (25.5%, n=242). Almost half of the cases included one action (n=494) and about 89% (n=890) targeted primary needs (body functions, walking indoors, self-care, or domestic life), mainly in clients with major functional limitations (odds ratio=2.96; 95% confidence interval: 1.95–4.49). About 50% (n=517) of the cases involved 1–2 contacts; about 55% (n=549) were completed within 3 weeks. Exercise was associated with ≥6 visits over ≥7 weeks. Supervision of home care staff was performed in 19.1% (n=181) of cases. Conclusion: Reablement physiotherapy mostly comprises a few actions over a relatively short period. Whether this is a conscious strategy based on the purpose of home-based physiotherapy or clients’ needs and wishes, or conversely an expression of limited resources, remains to be investigated.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
healthy aging, home care, physical activity, physiotherapy, reablement, technical aids
in
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare
volume
16
pages
14 pages
publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • pmid:37881528
  • scopus:85174964753
ISSN
1178-2390
DOI
10.2147/JMDH.S415112
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Olsson Möller et al.
id
54b8b30d-45fe-4913-b9c2-9a8a90a77cb5
date added to LUP
2023-12-13 10:47:06
date last changed
2024-04-26 04:22:57
@article{54b8b30d-45fe-4913-b9c2-9a8a90a77cb5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Reablement is a multidisciplinary intervention aimed at promoting function and independence for people with functional decline. Detailed descriptions of various professions’ actions are needed for organization and evaluation of reablement services. This study describes physiotherapy practice in a reablement context in Swedish municipalities, focusing on the content and magnitude of interventions. Methods: Physiotherapists (n=108) from 34 municipalities answered a web-based survey covering the target group, content and duration of their actions, and number of contacts initiated over a 3-week period. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Results: Overall, 1005 cases were reported, with a mean age of 78.9 years (SD: 11.7); about 91% (n=912) were aged ≥65 and 61% (n=612) were women. About 70% were allocated to home care; 16% (n=160) of these had minor functional limitations (eg, needing safety alarms/help with domestic tasks), and 55% (n=550) had major functional limitations (eg, needing help with personal activities of daily living). The most reported actions were providing technical aids (60.8%, n=576), instructions/counseling (41.5%, n=393), walking/climbing stairs (27.6%, n=262), strength training (27.2%, n=258), and fall prevention (25.5%, n=242). Almost half of the cases included one action (n=494) and about 89% (n=890) targeted primary needs (body functions, walking indoors, self-care, or domestic life), mainly in clients with major functional limitations (odds ratio=2.96; 95% confidence interval: 1.95–4.49). About 50% (n=517) of the cases involved 1–2 contacts; about 55% (n=549) were completed within 3 weeks. Exercise was associated with ≥6 visits over ≥7 weeks. Supervision of home care staff was performed in 19.1% (n=181) of cases. Conclusion: Reablement physiotherapy mostly comprises a few actions over a relatively short period. Whether this is a conscious strategy based on the purpose of home-based physiotherapy or clients’ needs and wishes, or conversely an expression of limited resources, remains to be investigated.</p>}},
  author       = {{Olsson Möller, Ulrika and Zingmark, Magnus and Ekstrand, Joakim and Haak, Maria}},
  issn         = {{1178-2390}},
  keywords     = {{healthy aging; home care; physical activity; physiotherapy; reablement; technical aids}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{3075--3088}},
  publisher    = {{Dove Medical Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare}},
  title        = {{The Content of Physiotherapy and Factors Impacting on Reablement – A National Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S415112}},
  doi          = {{10.2147/JMDH.S415112}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}