Desire for Rehabilitation Services of Stroke Patients Admitted in Post-acute Rehabilitation Facilities

Objective: To determine whether the rehabilitation desire of stroke patients in post-acute rehabilitation facilities was suitable to objective parameters, and to figure out the discharge plan after post-acute rehabilitation facilities. Method: 107 stroke patients in post-acute rehabilitation facilities were included. In order to identify rehabilitation desire, interviews were conducted among patients or their family members in a direct line. Discharge plans of patients after post-acute rehabilitation facilities were surveyed. All participants completed demographic measures, Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Korean Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set for patients with neurological problems in post-acute rehabilitation facilities to determine the influences on rehabilitation desire. Results: Most (81.3%) of the patients desired more intensive rehabilitation service and 65 patients (60.7%) purposed to get physical therapy focused on motor recovery. Only 24 patients (22.4%) planned home discharge, most (67.3%) of them did re-admission. Conclusion: The desire of patients in post-acute rehabilitation facilities would have a tendency of hospital staying for motor recovery in large percentage of patients. Rehabilitation desire and goal were not affected by the affected side and onset duration. Social support and extended educational program for rehabilitation for the patients and their relatives should be performed to overcome these problems.