The effect on physical performance of a functional assessment and immediate rehabilitation of acutely admitted elderly patients with reduced functional performance: the design of a randomised clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Illness and hospitalisation, even of short duration, pose separate risks for permanently reduced functional performance in elderly medical patients. Functional assessment in the acute pathway will ensure early detection of declining performance and form the basis for mobilisation during hospitalisation and subsequent rehabilitation. For optimal results rehabilitation should begin immediately after discharge.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a systematic functional assessment in the emergency department (ED) of elderly medical patients with reduced functional performance when combined with immediate postdischarge rehabilitation.

Method and analysis

The study is a two-way factorial randomised clinical trial. Participants will be recruited among

SUBMITTER: Bruun IH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4067830 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature