Barriers to outcome measure administration and completion at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation of people with amputation.

We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients discharged from an inpatient amputee rehabilitation program over a 2 yr period (January 2010-December 2011). Our objective was to determine barriers to the completion of a standardized maximum walk test (MWT) at discharge. Over the study period, there were 190 discharges. The sample had a mean age of 63.5 yr (standard deviation [SD] +/- 14.2 yr), was 71.6% male, and had a majority of transtibial amputation (67%). The average length of inpatient stay was 28.1 d (SD +/- 13.2 d). MWT including distance and time was completed in 149 (78%) of the discharges; the main factors limiting patient performance on this measure were cardiorespiratory fatigue (53%), lower-limb pain (24%), back pain (12%), and skin problems (6%). Among those patients who completed the MWT, in 31% no limiting factor was identified. Forty-one discharge MWTs were not completed as a result of nonambulatory status (34%), acute illness (17%), limb pain (7%), skin problems (12%), or other reasons. Knowing these limitations may direct care from a clinical standpoint and provides valuable data for research planning to further examine outcome measures in this population.

Barriers to outcome measure administration and completion at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation of people with amputation. Journal Articles