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Open Access 01-12-2010 | Study protocol

A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial incorporating a health economic analysis to investigate if additional allied health services for rehabilitation reduce length of stay without compromising patient outcomes

Authors: Nicholas F Taylor, Natasha K Brusco, Jennifer J Watts, Nora Shields, Casey Peiris, Natalie Sullivan, Genevieve Kennedy, Cheng Kwong Teo, Allison Farley, Kylee Lockwood, Camilla Radia-George

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2010

Abstract

Background

Reducing patient length of stay is a high priority for health service providers. Preliminary information suggests additional Saturday rehabilitation services could reduce the time a patient stays in hospital by three days. This large trial will examine if providing additional physiotherapy and occupational therapy services on a Saturday reduces health care costs, and improves the health of hospital inpatients receiving rehabilitation compared to the usual Monday to Friday service. We will also investigate the cost effectiveness and patient outcomes of such a service.

Methods/Design

A randomised controlled trial will evaluate the effect of providing additional physiotherapy and occupational therapy for rehabilitation. Seven hundred and twelve patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation at two metropolitan sites will be randomly allocated to the intervention group or control group. The control group will receive usual care physiotherapy and occupational therapy from Monday to Friday while the intervention group will receive the same amount of rehabilitation as the control group Monday to Friday plus a full physiotherapy and occupational therapy service on Saturday. The primary outcomes will be patient length of stay, quality of life (EuroQol questionnaire), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and health utilization and cost data. Secondary outcomes will assess clinical outcomes relevant to the goals of therapy: the 10 metre walk test, the timed up and go test, the Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool (PC PART), and the modified motor assessment scale. Blinded assessors will assess outcomes at admission and discharge, and follow up data on quality of life, function and health care costs will be collected at 6 and 12 months after discharge. Between group differences will be analysed with analysis of covariance using baseline measures as the covariate. A health economic analysis will be carried out alongside the randomised controlled trial.

Discussion

This paper outlines the study protocol for the first fully powered randomised controlled trial incorporating a health economic analysis to establish if additional Saturday allied health services for rehabilitation inpatients reduces length of stay without compromising discharge outcomes. If successful, this trial will have substantial health benefits for the patients and for organizations delivering rehabilitation services.

Clinical trial registration number

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12609000973213

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/10/308/prepub

Title: A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial incorporating a health economic analysis to investigate if additional allied health services for rehabilitation reduce length of stay without compromising patient outcomes
Authors: Nicholas F Taylor
Natasha K Brusco
Jennifer J Watts
Nora Shields
Casey Peiris
Natalie Sullivan
Genevieve Kennedy
Cheng Kwong Teo
Allison Farley
Kylee Lockwood
Camilla Radia-George
Publication date: 01-12-2010
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-10-308

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Springer Medicine

A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial incorporating a health economic analysis to investigate if additional allied health services for rehabilitation reduce length of stay without compromising patient outcomes

Abstract

Background

Methods/Design

Discussion

Clinical trial registration number

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods/Design

Discussion

Clinical trial registration number

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