Yasunori Kawasaki, PT, MSc, Yoshimi Tsuchida, PT, Makio Yamaga, MD, PhD,
Hiroaki Koga, MD, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, PhD, Yoshiaki Nose, MD, PhD,
Junichi Iiyama, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 4: 55-60, 2013
Objective: This study aimed to clarify whether or not
the years of experience of physical therapists (PTs)
and occupational therapists (OTs) influences
rehabilitation treatment results as quantified using the
Functional Independence Measure (FIM).
Methods: The subjects were PTs and OTs who took
care of 354 cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients.
With motor FIM gain and motor FIM efficiency as the
evaluation scales, the following three combinations
were evaluated: 1) FIM gain and efficiency on
transfers, locomotion, and stairs, and PTsf years of
experience; 2) FIM gain and efficiency in eating,
grooming, bed bath, dressing, toilet behavior, urination
management, and defecation management, and OTsf
years of experience; and 3) motor FIM gain and motor
FIM efficiency on all items and years of experience
(PTsf + OTsf). Results were analyzed using simple
regression, multiple regression, and stratified simple
regression.
Results: A weakly positive relationship was observed
between a PTfs years of experience and motor FIM
gain in moderately impaired patients. No relationship
was observed between an OTfs years of experience
and motor FIM gain. There was no relationship
between years of experience and motor FIM efficiency.
Conclusion: These results suggest that activities of
daily living involving the lower limbs are influenced
by a PTfs years of experience.
Key words: years of experience, motor FIM gain, quality of rehabilitation