AN EVALUATION OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION GOVERNED BY FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE MEASURE (FIMSM) IN INCONTINENT STROKE PATIENTS

Patients with acute hemispheric stroke and ensuing urinary incontinenc e were randomly allocated to a ward using conventional methods of reha bilitation (n = 13) or to a ward practicing rehabilitation governed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) (n = 21), All patients were ass essed on admission and on discharge using the Katz activities of daily living (ADL) index, the psychological general well-being index, item G of the FIM index (FIM-G), and a mobility score, Patients admitted to the ward utilizing FIM were additionally evaluated using the total FI M on admission, repeatedly during the rehabilitation period and on dis charge. An individual rehabilitation programme based on the latest FIM score was used throughout rehabilitation. There were no differences o n admission between groups regarding clinical and demographic characte ristics, ADL, mobility and mood. Twenty patients in the intervention g roup regained continence before discharge compared to 3 (p < 0.01) in the control group. There was also a greater improvement in well-being in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Th is study has indicated that rehabilitation governed by the use of FIM reduced urinary incontinence and enhanced well-being better than conve ntional methods of rehabilitation. The results warrant a larger study to further investigate rehabilitation of incontinent stroke patients u sing FIM.