Change in Quality of Life of Disabled Patients after Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation at Siriraj Hospital
Teerada Ploypetch MD*, Piyapat Dajpratham MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To compare the quality of life (QOL) before and after intensive rehabilitation of disabled patients and to examine
the factors associated with the change in QOL.
Material and Method: A retrospective chart review of 200 disabled patients who were admitted for intensive rehabilitation
between 2006 and 2009. The Thai abbreviated version of World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI)
was used to assess QOL. Demographic data, physical and psychosocial status, Modified Barthel ADL Index (BAI) were
collected and analyzed for the association with WHOQOL-BREF-THAI score changes.
Results : One hundred seventeen (58.5%) males and 83 (41.5%) females with mean age 55.6 (SD17.9) years old participated
in this study. Various principal diagnoses were included; 112 (56%) stroke, 54 (27%) spinal cord injury and 34 (17%) other
diagnoses. After the intensive rehabilitation, quality of life perception was improved in 164 (82%) disabled patients. There
was significant difference in mean WHOQOL-BREF-THAI scores on admission and at discharge which were 81.3 (SD 11.2)
and 85.5 (SD 11.0) respectively with the p-value < 0.001. The mean changed score was 4.2 (SD 8.0). However, four domains
of QOL were improved except the social domain. The factors associated with the disabled patients who were non-improved
in WHOQOL-BREF-THAI score after rehabilitation were having non-familial caregiver (OR 5.8, 95% CI 2.1 to 16.0) and
joint stiffness (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.9).
Conclusion : Intensive inpatient rehabilitation can significantly improve quality of life in the disabled patients with various
primary diagnoses. Having joint stiffness prior to rehabilitation and non-availability of familial members for taking care are
the factors associated with the poor outcome in QOL perception.
Keywords : Disability, Intensive inpatient rehabilitation, Quality of life, WHOQOL-BREF-THAI
