Reviewing factors that predict community reintegration among the community-dwelling subacute stroke subjects: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Community reintegration (CR) is an ultimate goal of stroke rehabilitation and lacks focused treatment strategies. Factors influencing the CR has been studied in the past, however, subjects were in chronic phase of recovery. Purpose: To review the factors predicting CR among community-dwelling sub-acute stroke subjects. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 92 subacute stroke subjects. Each subject was assessed for trunk control, physical function, balance self-efficacy, fear of fall, and community reintegration (CR) using trunk impairment scale, Stroke Impact Scale-16, Activity specific balance confidence scale, Falls efficacy Scale–International and Reintegration to Normal Living Index, respectively. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to associate CR with trunk control, Physical function, balance self-efficacy, fear of fall; and Mann Whitney U test was used to associate the type of stroke, side of stroke, gender, and CR. A multiple linear regression was used to find which of the factors could predict the level of CR. Results and Discussion: Age (r=-0.33), physical function (r=0.78), trunk control (r=0.58), balance self-efficacy (r=0.66) and fear of fall (r=-0.61) revealed a significant correlation (p<0.001) with CR. However, regression analysis found physical function considered to be the strongest predictor (β=0.655, p<0.001) for CR followed by age and trunk control (R2=0.638). Conclusion: Stroke rehabilitation should focus on improving the impairments affecting the physical function in the subacute phase to enhance CR. Additionally, one should try to incorporate environmental modification for the older stroke subjects.