The Effects of an Integrated Management Program on Physical Function, Cognitive Function, and Depression in Patients with Subacute stroke

Abstract

Purpose : This study examined the effects of an integrated management program on physical function, cognitive function, and depression in patients with subacute stroke. Methods: A nonequivalent control group design was adopted. The participants were assigned to either the experimental group (n=20) or control group (n=23). The experimental group received an 8-week integrated management program and standard rehabilitation service (i.e., physical therapy and occupational therapy), while the control group received the standard rehabilitation service only. Physical function was measured as gait speed and balance ability using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Cognitive function was measured with neuro-behavioral cognitive status examination (NCSE), and depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to determine changes in physical function, cognitive function, and depression over 8-weeks. Results: The interaction between group and time was significant, indicating that the experimental group showed improvement in gait speed, balance ability, cognitive function (linguistic ability, linguistic memory, reasoning), and a decrease in depression compared to the control group. Conclusion : These results indicate that the integrated management program developed herein was beneficial in restoring physical function, cognitive function, and depression in subacute stroke patients.