Self-perceived performance and satisfaction with performance of daily activities in persons with multiple sclerosis following interdisciplinary rehabilitation.

Abstract Purpose: To assess self-perceived performance and satisfaction with performance of daily activities in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) on admission to and at discharge from interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Method: A retrospective study with a pre-post design. Twenty-seven women and 16 men with MS (mean age 51 years; median EDSS 6.5) participated in an individualised, goal-oriented, interdisciplinary, rehabilitation programme (average length 4 weeks). The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used on admission to rehabilitation and at discharge. Results: On admission, the persons prioritised 216 activities that they perceived difficult to perform (mean number 3, range 2-8). Of these, 136 (63%) were in the COPM area of self-care, 52 (24%) in productivity and 28 (13%) in leisure. The lowest mean ratings of performance were found in the subgroups active recreation, community management and socialisation, and for satisfaction in the subgroup socialisation. For about 60% of the 216 prioritised activities, ratings of COPM performance as well as satisfaction were higher at discharge than on admission. For 18 (42%) and 24 (56%) persons, respectively, the mean change scores of performance and of satisfaction were equal to or greater than 2.0 at discharge, indicating a clinically significant change. Conclusions: Persons with MS can experience problems with all types of daily activities upon admission to rehabilitation, but also perceive improvements in their performance and satisfaction with performance in these activities at discharge from rehabilitation. Using patient-reported outcome measures, such as the COPM, may contribute to a broader understanding of the benefits of interdisciplinary rehabilitation in persons with MS. Implications for Rehabilitation Persons with MS can perceive problems with all types of daily activities which have to be considered during interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Following interdisciplinary rehabilitation, persons with MS can perceive improvements in their performance and satisfaction with performance in all types of daily activities. Patient-reported outcome measures can contribute to a broader understanding of the benefits of interdisciplinary rehabilitation in persons with MS

Engagement in occupations in persons with Multiple Sclerosis

The overall aim of this thesis was to increase our knowledge of engagement in occupations in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in order to develop client-centred occupational therapy and rehabilitation. In study I, observations of the performance of self-care and household occupations were pursued in 44 participants, and study II identified self-perceived problems in performance of occupations in 47 participants. In studies III and IV, in-depth interviews with ten participants revealed experiences related to engagement in occupations and to the process of adaptation of engagement in occupations. The results showed that persons with MS can perceive problems related to all areas of occupations, and at different hierarchical levels. They can be dissatisfied with performance in occupations, especially related to self-care and household occupations and observational assessments confirm that performance in these occupations is impacted on. Furthermore, they can be independent in self-care but dependent in household occupations, and can have problems in their performance regardless of their age, disease severity, or their living arrangements. They can experience that they need to struggle continuously to manage occupations, and that this changes them as a person and make them live their lives differently than they had anticipated. In addition, they experience their adaptation of engagement in occupations as an ongoing, non-linear process, involving both themselves and their family, and they consider who would benefit the most, before they choose their adaptation of engagement in occupations. In summary, this thesis has shown that engagement in occupations in persons with MS is a complex phenomenon. All areas of occupations can be affected, and need to be addressed within occupational therapy and rehabilitation. Clients’ own experiences needs to be elucidated in order to facilitate the reconstruction of self, identity and support the process of adaptation of occupations

Life satisfaction and self-reported impairments in persons with late effects of polio.

OBJECTIVE: Decades after an acute poliomyelitis infection many persons experience new symptoms or impairments which may affect their life satisfaction. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between life satisfaction and self-reported impairments in persons with late effects of polio. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine persons (104women and 65men) with prior polio responded on admission to rehabilitation to the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11) assessing satisfaction with life as a whole and 10 domains of life satisfaction and to a 13-item questionnaire assessing self-reported impairments related to late effects of polio. RESULTS: A majority was to some degree satisfied with life as a whole and with all 10 domains of life satisfaction in LiSat-11, but less than 20% was very satisfied or satisfied with their somatic health. Muscle fatigue, muscle weakness, general fatigue, muscle and/or joint pain during physical activity and cold intolerance were the most frequently reported impairments. Overall, those who rated themselves as not satisfied (according to LiSat-11) reported significantly higher degrees of impairment than those who were satisfied. The relationships between the items of life satisfaction in LiSat-11 and the items in the self-report questionnaire varied from -0.01 to -0.64. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction with life as a whole, and different domains of life satisfaction are low to moderately associated with self-reported impairments. This implies that rehabilitation interventions must address not only self-reported impairments but also activity limitations and participation restrictions in order to enhance life satisfaction in people with late effects of polio

Life satisfaction 6–15 years after a traumatic brain injury

Objectives: To assess satisfaction with life as a whole and 10 domains of life satisfaction in Swedish individuals after a traumatic brain injury, to describe the relationship with demographic, social and injury related variables, and to compare the level of life satisfaction with a Swedish reference sample. Subjects: Fifty-one men and sixteen women, 6-15 years after a traumatic brain injury. Methods: Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11). Results: Many of the participants were, to some degree, satisfied with life as a whole and with all 10 domains of life satisfaction, but significantly less satisfied with life as whole and with 6 of the other 10 domains of life satisfaction in comparison with the Swedish reference sample. The participants' sex, injury severity or years post-injury was not related to any domains in LiSat-11, whereas age at time of injury, marital status and vocational situation were significantly related to a few of the domains. Conclusion: This study shows that life satisfaction can be affected several years after a traumatic brain injury. It appears that individuals who are married or cohabiting and productive had higher life satisfaction. This implies that regaining social participation is an important factor for life satisfaction many years after a traumatic brain injury

Secondary Health Conditions, Activity Limitations, and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults With Long-Term Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Many individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) have lived several decades with their injury, leading to a need for a deeper understanding of factors associated with healthy aging in people with long-term SCI. Objectives: To (1) describe secondary health conditions, activity limitations, and life satisfaction in older adults with long-term SCI, and to (2) investigate how sociodemographics, injury characteristics, and secondary health conditions are associated with their activity limitations and life satisfaction. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive cohort study. Setting: Home and community settings. Participants: A total of 123 individuals (71% men, injury levels C1-L5, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-D), mean age 63 years, mean time since injury 24 years. Methods: Baseline data as part of the Swedish Aging with Spinal Cord Injury Study. Associations between variables were investigated with multivariable linear regression analyses. Main Outcome Measurements: Bowel and bladder function, nociceptive and neuropathic pain, spasticity, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, third version, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Results: Bowel-related and bladder-related problems were reported by 32% and 44%, respectively, 66% reported moderate or severe nociceptive and/or neuropathic pain, and 44% reported spasticity. Activity limitations were moderate (mean Spinal Cord Independence Measure, third version, total score 65.2, range 8-100) where injury characteristics and spasticity explained 68% of the variance. Higher level and more severe SCI (based on the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) exhibited the strongest association with more activity limitations. Life satisfaction was rated just above the midpoint between satisfied and dissatisfied with life (mean Satisfaction With Life Scale total score 20.7, range 6-34). Marital status, vocational situation, bladder function and injury characteristics explained 38% of the variance, where having a partner showed the strongest association with greater life satisfaction. Activity limitations and life satisfaction were not associated with gender, age and time since injury. Conclusion: Older adults with long-term SCI can maintain a relatively high level of physical independence and generally are satisfied with their lives, regardless of gender, age or time since injury. The associations demonstrate the importance of injury characteristics for the performance of daily activities and the social context for life satisfaction in older adults with long-term SCI. Level of Evidence: To be determined

Long-term benefits of progressive resistance training in chronic stroke: A 4-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term benefits of progressive resistance training in chronic stroke. DESIGN: A 4-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of progressive resistance training. SUBJECTS: Eighteen women and men (mean age 66 (standard deviation 4) from the original group of 24 post-stroke participants. METHODS: The training group (n = 11) had participated in supervised progressive resistance training of the knee extensors and flexors (80% of maximum) twice weekly for 10 weeks, whereas the control group (n = 7) had continued their usual daily activities. Muscle strength was evaluated isotonically and isokinetically (60º/s; Biodex), muscle tone with the Modified Ashworth Scale, gait performance by the Timed Up and Go test, the Fast Gait Speed test and 6-Minute Walk test, and perceived participation with the Stroke Impact Scale (Participation domain). RESULTS: Four years after the intervention, the improvements in muscle strength in the training group were maintained, and there was no reduction in strength in the control group. Compared with baseline there were still significant between-group differences for both isotonic and isokinetic strength. No significant between-group differences were found in muscle tone, gait performance or perceived participation. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that there is a long-term benefit of progressive resistance training in chronic stroke. This implies that progressive resistance training could be an effective training method to improve and maintain muscle strength in a long-term perspective