Introduction : Every day, patients undergo rehabilitation training under the guidance of a physical therapist person-to-person, but it ends in a short time. A patient who are taking walking exercises in the rehab center is confined to a wheelchair when that patient returns to the hospital ward. Such being the situation, we introduced part of the rehabilitation program into daily routine in the ward life. All the staff of the convalescent ward joined forces to help the patients restore their ability to perform the basic activities if daily living (ADLs) and motivate them to return to normal. The results of our efforts shall be reported here.Subjects and Methods : A total of 10 patients who were undergoing training in the rehab center were the subjects for this study. The progression of rehabilitation was observed and documented. The target of rehabilitation at the hospital ward was set. Their ability to perform ADLs were assessed.Results : Eight of the 10 subjects achieved the objective. Two persons failed because they got out shape. Two of the eight subjects who could attain the objective became eager to do daily routine.Discussion : Before this study, we only drove the patients to and from the rehab center, but when the study got started, we came to observe the patients from various angles because we had opportunities to grasp the situation about rehabilitation, to asked physical therapists questions about care and exercises and exchange views with them. We thought that the introduction of part of the program implemented in the rehab center into daily routine in the ward life and the setting of the target of rehabilitation contributed to the enhancement of the levels of the patient’s ability to perform the ADLs. The old people exhibit a peculiar state of mind due to physical inactivity and aging. When they are hindered from performing daily activities, they feel frustrated and plunge into helplessness. We thought that it is important to make them take an interest in what they can do instead of what they cannot do, if we are to uplift their ability to perform ADLs and improve the quality of their life.Conclusion : Giving the patients rehabilitation training in concert with physical therapists results in the improvement of their ability to do the activities of daily living.
Patients' Rooms ; Rehabilitation aspects ; Hospitals ; Training ; Rehabilitation therapy

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) for subjects with stroke and to test the reliability and validity of K-MBI. METHOD: Six senior physiatrists translated the 5th version of MBI into K-MBI and we administered K-MBI to 30 subjects with stroke. Fifteen different examiners working at the 5 different university hospitals evaluated video-recorded examination cases independently to test the reliability and validity of K-MBI. We analyzed intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the K-MBI by the Kendall's coefficient of concordance and Spearman's correlation coefficients, respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for assessing internal consistency of the K-MBI and Spearman's correlation between the K-MBI and Brunnstr?m stage was employed to evaluate the validity of the K-MBI. RESULTS: The intra-rater reliabilities of physiatrists, resident physicians of rehabilitation medicine and occupational therapists were 0.93~1.00, 0.87~0.99, and 0.97~1.00 (p< 0.01), respectively. The inter-rater reliabilities were 0.93~0.98 (p<0.01) and Cronbach's alpha was 0.84 (p<0.01) as the internal consistency reliability of K-MBI. For construct validation study, each item of K-MBI had significant correlation with total score of K-MBI (r=0.54~0.78, p< 0.01). CONCLUSION: The K-MBI is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring functional status of subjects with stroke.
Hospitals, University ; Rehabilitation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Stroke*

Background: Psychosocial care remains an important component in holistic care nursing and is crucial for patients’ recovery outcomes. Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine nurses’ perception towards their role in psychosocial care. Methodology: The research design was descriptive and cross-sectional. Nurses’ Role in Psychosocial Care Questionnaire (NRPCQ) was used for data collection and approximately 110 registered nurses (response rate = 52.38%) participated in the study via convenience sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics, Mann-Whitney U test were used for data analysis. Results: In general, nurses’ perception towards their role in providing psychosocial care was positive (M = 73.71, SD ± 12.20). Items on “demonstrating warmth and friendliness by smiling” (M = 3.92, SD ± 0.28); and “explaining nursing procedures or interventions to the patient” (M = 3.88, SD ± 0.32) were rated most positive. Nevertheless, items on “referring patients to other health care team members” (M = 3.32, SD ± 0.83), and “discussing with patient and patient’s family regarding planned care” (M = 3.44, SD ± 0.69) were rated the least positive. The Mann-Whitney U test analysis revealed significant association between nurses’ age and perception towards their role in psychosocial care (p = 0.025), in which the older nurses have a more positive perception towards their role in psychosocial care than the younger nurses. Conclusion: The findings highlighted some important gaps in the practice of psychosocial care among the registered nurses. The information serves as a baseline for the planning and implementing of relevant strategies in enhancing nurses’ role in psychosocial care provision.
Perception ; Role ; Psychiatric Rehabilitation ; Nurses ; Hospitals

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of structural and functional characteristics of social network on social adjustment in people with mental illness. METHODS: 236 members of the people with mental illness who were enrolled in day hospital, community mental health center and social rehabilitation center participated in the survey. RESULTS: Of structural and functional characteristics of social network, the influenced factors on social adjustment were network size of professional, social support (family, friend and professional) and conflict with professional. When controlling socio-demographic and disorder characteristics, this regression model affected significantly on social adjustment but the power of influence reduced slightly. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the social adjustment of people with mental illness, it is necessary for social network to provide them with more emotional and social resources. Especially, it is important for mental health professionals to build active partnership with the people with mental illness as consumer. For people with mental illness, the economic stability through guaranteed income such as disability benefits, and occupational rehabilitation is very important.
Friends ; Hospitals, Community ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Social Adjustment

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to make a comparison of motor function according to the age group after the rehabilitation management in poststroke hemiplegic patients. METHOD: We examined 23 cases of young age stroke with hemiplegia aged < or =50 years and 24 cases of old age stroke aged > or =70 years. Motor power of affected side was measured by Motricity Index (MI) and Trunk Control Test (TCT). Level of ambulation was determined by Massachusetts General Hospital Functional Ambulation Classification (MGHFAC). Scores of each scale at admission and reassessment were obtained after rehabilitation management to compare the level of motor function in each age group and according to the age group. RESULTS: Scores of MI, TCT and MGHFAC scale were significantly increased after rehabilitation management in each group. Although both groups differed regarding to those of MGHFAC, there was no difference for the increment of MI and TCT according to the age group after rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Both age group showed significant improvement of the motor function and ambulation level after rehabilitation management. Ambulation level improvement of younger patient was greater than that of older patients. However, there was no difference in the extent of motor function improvement of affected side according to the age groups.
Classification ; Hemiplegia ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Massachusetts ; Rehabilitation* ; Stroke* ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how much formal caregivers know about caring for stroke patients, and whether they adequately provide it. METHODS: Formal caregivers, who worked for stroke patients at 8 hospitals (including 4 university hospitals, 2 rehabilitation hospitals, and 2 convalescent hospitals) participated in this study. The survey was based on a self-report questionnaire, with 6 categories containing a total of 48 questions about the specific care of stroke patients: the demographic characteristics of the caregivers, bed positioning, the provision of meals, position changes and transfers, the range of motion exercises, and caregiver training. RESULTS: A total of 217 caregivers were surveyed, and they were distributed as follows: 41% came from the university hospitals, 35% came from the rehabilitation hospitals, and 24% came from the convalescent hospitals. The percentages of correct answers were distributed as follows: 64.3% for bed positioning, 74.3% for providing meals, and 62.4% for position change and transfer. The total and subscale scores of the caregivers working at convalescent hospitals were significantly lower than those of the caregivers working at the other types of hospitals (p<0.05). Only 7.8% of the total participants received training on a regular basis. The caregivers obtained most of the information from caregiver associations (58.1%), and the majority of the caregivers (65.4%) were willing to receive training. CONCLUSION: About one third (33.8%) of caregivers did not have adequate knowledge of how to properly care for stroke patients; in fact, a significant number of caregivers demonstrated inappropriate and insufficient knowledge in several areas. It is assumed that the provision of regular training, by rehabilitation experts, will improve the professionalism and knowledge of the caregivers, and positively affect patient outcomes.
Caregivers ; Education ; Exercise ; Hospitals, Convalescent ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Meals ; Nursing Care ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the vocational rehabilitation program on the quality of life of the chronic schizophrenics, and to evaluate how chronic schizophrenics felt about their lives. METHOD: The subjects were 39 chronic schizophrenics who had participated in the vocational rehabilitation program(participant group) and now lived in the community. The control group were 43 chronic schizophrenics who were outpatients without vocational rehabilitation(non-participant group). The scale for quality of life was divided into two subscales, i.e., the objective and the subjective areas. The subscales are composed of living situation, family situations, interpersonal relations, work, health, finances, leisure activities, autonomy, and self-esteem. RESULTS: 1) In the demographic characteristics such as age, sex, duration of illness, and duration of education, two groups were not different significantly. However, dosage of antipsychotics were lower in participant group than non-participant group. 2) In the objective quality of life subscale, the scores of living situation, interpersonal relations, work, health, economic state, and leisures were higher in participant group than non-participant group. But, family relations score were lower in participant group than in non-participant group. autonomy were not different between two groups. 3) In the subjective quality of life subscale, the score of living situation, family relations, interpersonal relations, work, health, economic states, leisure activities, and autonomy were all higher in participant group than in non-partcipant group. 4)Self-esteem was significantly higher in participant group than in non-participant group. CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that the objective and subjective quality of life of participant group in the vocational rehabilitation program were higher than those of non-participant group. The vocational rehabilitation program of Yong-In Mental Hospital seems to have been effective for the chronic schizophrenics. And the psychosocial rehabilitation program, vocational rehabilitation program, and family education program should be developed more and implemented in the community.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Education ; Family Relations ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Leisure Activities ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life* ; Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation, Vocational*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore residential needs of the mentally disabled which reflect residential relational factors and residential service needs. METHODS: The instrument used to measure residential needs of mentally disabled persons was the questionnaires reformed previous questionnaires. The instrument was tested with a sample of 307 participants who were registered in a day hospital, mental health center or social rehabilitation center. RESULTS: The needs for a residential facility for the mental disabled were significantly related with paying the entrance cost, monthly living cost and the decision making of the residents. The needs for residential services were independent living skills and an occupational rehabilitation program. CONCLUSION: The needs for residential services of the mentally disabled were varied because their diagnosis, symptom, functional level, treatment and personal priority are different. Therefore, we should develop various residential types and living services based on the needs and priorities of the mentally disabled.
Decision Making ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Independent Living ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Residential Facilities

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore residential needs of the mentally disabled which reflect residential relational factors and residential service needs. METHODS: The instrument used to measure residential needs of mentally disabled persons was the questionnaires reformed previous questionnaires. The instrument was tested with a sample of 307 participants who were registered in a day hospital, mental health center or social rehabilitation center. RESULTS: The needs for a residential facility for the mental disabled were significantly related with paying the entrance cost, monthly living cost and the decision making of the residents. The needs for residential services were independent living skills and an occupational rehabilitation program. CONCLUSION: The needs for residential services of the mentally disabled were varied because their diagnosis, symptom, functional level, treatment and personal priority are different. Therefore, we should develop various residential types and living services based on the needs and priorities of the mentally disabled.
Decision Making ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Independent Living ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Residential Facilities

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop and to analyze the duty and the task of rehabilitation nurse in Korea. METHOD: The definition of rehabilitation nurse and job description was developed based on developing curriculum(DACUM) by panels who have experienced in DACUM analysis and rehabilitation nursing. 228 nurses who were working at rehabilitation centers and rehabilitation unit in general hospitals were participated. The questionnaire included frequency, importance, and difficulty of duties and tasks. The data were collected in March and April 2009, analyzed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The job description of rehabilitation nurse in Korea revealed 11 duties, and 61 tasks. On the all 11 duties, the highest duty in frequency and importance was direct nursing care (2.47+/-.31, 2.77+/-.28) and the highest duty in difficulty was self-development (2.39+/-.48). Among the tasks of duties 'direct nursing care' in 'manage medication' (2.87+/-.35) in frequency, the task 'prevent and manage bedsore' (2.91+/-.31) of duty 'direct nursing care' in importance, and 'cope emergency situations' (2.72~.49) of duty direct nursing care in difficulty showed the highest degree. CONCLUSION: The political efforts for the legislation of role and task of rehabilitation nurse were needed.
Emergencies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Job Description ; Korea ; Nurse Practitioners ; Nursing Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Rehabilitation Nursing