Functional gains during acute hospitalization for stroke

Objectives. 1) Confirm clinimetric suitability of 5 Functional Independence Measure(TM) (FIM) items for characterizing functional independence. 2) Describe,functional changes and relationships between selected variables and functional independence at discharge and functional change. Methods. For 451 patients hospitalized for acute stroke, scores were recorded at admission and discharge for 5 FIM items (transfers, eating, walking, expression, and memory). The sum of the 5 FIM items and functional change between admission and discharge were calculated. Results. The FIM scores were internally consistent (alpha =.894 and .918) and reflected 1 factor. Functional independence increased (t = 17.46, P <. 001) over a mean 5.5 days. Regression analysis showed the same variables (admission function, NIHSS score, length of stay, age, and total therapy units) to best predict discharge-function (R-2 =.804) and function change (R-2 =.184). Conclusions. Together, 5 easily observed FIM items demonstrated that functional independence increased during hospitalization. Discharge function and functional change were predicted significantly (but weakly) by therapy units.