Anna Cristina Aberg | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Gender comparisons of function-related dependence pain and insecurity in geriatric rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate possible gender differences regarding the effect of intervention in geriatric rehabilitation, expressed in terms of change in function-related dependence, pain and insecurity. DESIGN: Comparative study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 110 women and 44 men undergoing geriatric rehabilitation. METHODS: Performance-based assessments with use of the General Motor Function assessment scale. Non-parametric statistics were mainly used. RESULTS: The women showed higher degrees of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity on admission than the men. Both women and men displayed significant improvement in all 3 variables during the rehabilitation period. However, the positive changes regarding pain and insecurity were according to the analyses of systematic group changes, at a low degree among the men, probably because of the low levels on admission. Gender comparisons of proportions with positive intervention outcome indicated that a significantly larger proportion of the women showed a positive treatment effect after intervention, with a difference in recovery of 19% in dependence, 23% in pain and 33% in insecurity (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences in disability, with higher degrees of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity among women on admission for geriatric rehabilitation, can be diminished during the rehabilitation period. These promising results may have relevance for the public health of the elderly population.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

On loss of activity and independence, adaptation improves life satisfaction in old age--a qualitative study of patients' perceptions.

The purpose was to improve the understanding of factors are perceived by elderly people as important for their life satisfaction, during and after rehabilitation. Fifteen persons aged 80-94 years were interviewed while in hospital and on two follow-up occasions after discharge. Assessment of motor function using the General Motor Function assessment scale was used for descriptive purposes. Three themes emerged as important for life satisfaction: activity, independence and adaptation. Activity and independence were considered significant for life satisfaction. Basic activity preferences were related to care of one's own body and to social contacts. Control and influence over help and services were regarded as important. Different strategies for adaptation to the consequences of disease were used: reorganisation, interaction with caregivers, mental adaptation and mental activities (used as pastime and escape). Those with declined motor functions limited their activity preferences. A key finding was that pleasant past memories were actively recalled in an effort to achieve current life satisfaction. This adaptation strategy created a sense of life satisfaction, however with a potential risk for concealing dissatisfaction with conditions that might otherwise be correctable. Strategies for improving life satisfaction among old people in rehabilitation are suggested.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Gender comparisons of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity in geriatric rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate possible gender differences regarding the effect of intervention in geriatric rehabilitation, expressed in terms of change in function-related dependence, pain and insecurity. DESIGN: Comparative study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 110 women and 44 men undergoing geriatric rehabilitation. METHODS: Performance-based assessments with use of the General Motor Function assessment scale. Non-parametric statistics were mainly used. RESULTS: The women showed higher degrees of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity on admission than the men. Both women and men displayed significant improvement in all 3 variables during the rehabilitation period. However, the positive changes regarding pain and insecurity were according to the analyses of systematic group changes, at a low degree among the men, probably because of the low levels on admission. Gender comparisons of proportions with positive intervention outcome indicated that a significantly larger proportion of the women showed a positive treatment effect after intervention, with a difference in recovery of 19% in dependence, 23% in pain and 33% in insecurity (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences in disability, with higher degrees of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity among women on admission for geriatric rehabilitation, can be diminished during the rehabilitation period. These promising results may have relevance for the public health of the elderly population.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Development and reliability of the General Motor Function Assessment Scale (GMF)--a performance-based measure of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity.

PURPOSE: To develop a scale for assessment of three components-dependence, pain and insecurity - related to motor functions of importance for activities of daily living among older rehabilitation patients and to establish its clinical practicality and reliability. METHOD: A General Motor Function Assessment Scale (GMF) with the above aims was constructed. Clinical practicality was explored by questionnaires to 14 physiotherapists. Inter-rater and test-retest reliability was tested on patients in three different forms of geriatric rehabilitation (n=20-25) and analysed by percentage agreement (PA) and a non-parametric statistical method, which provide measures of the random disagreement separately from the systematic part of the disagreement. RESULTS: In the clinical test the GMF was found to be time efficient and clinically adequate. Analysis of reliability showed overall high values of PA (PA> or =70) and of the rank-order agreement coefficient (r(a)>0.82), and low degrees of systematic disagreement. CONCLUSIONS: GMF was found to be a clinically useful assessment scale in geriatric rehabilitation. The statistical analyses indicted a high degree of reliability. Comparison of these results with reliability of comparable rating scales is difficult on account of the statistical methods used in other studies, which commonly do not take into account the non-metric properties of the data.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Evaluation and application of the General Motor Function assessment scale in geriatric rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: To test General Motor Function assessment scale (GMF) for concurrent validity, to analyse the distribution of scores and its clinical sensitivity in a setting of geriatric rehabilitation. METHOD: A descriptive and comparative study involving comparisons between GMF and Katz Index of ADL, analyses of GMF scores concerning distribution and comparisons between three geriatric care levels and between assessments pre- and post-intervention. One group of 20 in-patients and one group of 154 patients in three different care forms - institutional care, home rehabilitation and day care were included. Non parametric statistics were utilized, including a method which can separately measure the level of change for the group and for the individuals in that group. RESULTS: High correlation with r(s) = 0.80 (p < 0.001) between the subscale Dependence and the Katz Index of ADL verified that this part of the GMF measures variables related to ability in ADL. No floor effects in any of the subscales of the GMF were shown. The GMF was found to be sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate change from pre- and post-intervention assessments. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that GMF could be useful as a satisfactorily valid and sensitive tool for physiotherapists' standardized assessments in geriatric practice.

Activities of Daily Living↗