Vicente Benavides-Córdoba, Juan Carlos Ávila-Valencia, Diana Guerrero-Jaramillo, Luz Alejandra Lorca, Mauricio Palacios, Rodrigo Torres-Castro, Jhonatan Betancourt-Peña
{"title":"Interrater Reliability of the Spanish (Colombia) Version of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale","authors":"Vicente Benavides-Córdoba, Juan Carlos Ávila-Valencia, Diana Guerrero-Jaramillo, Luz Alejandra Lorca, Mauricio Palacios, Rodrigo Torres-Castro, Jhonatan Betancourt-Peña","doi":"10.1155/2023/1124661","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1124661","url":null,"abstract":"Background. COVID-19 has been one of the most critical public health challenges of recent decades. This disease develops severely in one in five patients, and approximately 5% require admission to a critical care unit. Due to the impact of the sequelae, the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS) was developed. This study is aimed at determining the interrater reliability of the Spanish (Colombia) version of the PCFS in adult patients with post-COVID-19 infection. Methods. This is an observational study performed with patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Two evaluators repeated the test-retest of the PCFS scale with knowledge and clinical experience in the care of patients with COVID-19 and had previously applied the test. The PCFS assesses functional limitations at discharge and can be used at 4 and 8 weeks to evaluate practical consequences and determine the degree of disability these patients may have. For interrater reliability, Cronbach’s alpha was applied with its respective confidence interval and the Bland-Altman method. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was taken as the basis for the interpretation of the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results. A total of 112 adult patients participated in the study, aged <math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" id=\"M1\"> <mn>51.46</mn> <mo>±</mo> <mn>15.94</mn> </math> years. It was evidenced that the survival, constant care, and activities of daily living questions have an ICC of one (1.000) with an ICC (1.000-1.000), demonstrating excellent reliability, while those close to one were instrumental activities, role participation, symptoms, and final score with an ICC 0.918 to 0.984 and an ICC (0.881-0.989). Thus, a homogeneous distribution of the interrater data was evident. Conclusions. Excellent interobserver reliability of the Spanish (Colombia) version of the PCFS in patients with different degrees of functional status was reported.","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":" 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135192901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pavlina Psychouli, Ioannis Mamais, Charalambos Anastasiou
{"title":"An Exploration of the Effectiveness of Different Intensity Protocols of Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy in Stroke: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Pavlina Psychouli, Ioannis Mamais, Charalambos Anastasiou","doi":"10.1155/2023/6636987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6636987","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To examine the effectiveness of different modified Constraint-Inuced Therapy (mCIMT) protocol intensities on upper extremity motor function in adults with hemiplegia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library for articles published between April 2010 and December 2021. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Studies were excluded if they used a sample of less than five, mCIMT in combination with other therapy, and/or if they were not written in English. Methodologic quality was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool-2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-six RCTs with a total of 721 participants were included. Most researchers followed a moderate to low protocol intensity in terms of total treatment time and moderate to high intensity with regard to restriction time. Almost all of the upper limb motor function measures showed statistically significant improvements (<i>p</i> < .05) after mCIMT, irrespective of the protocol's intensity, but there was lack of high-quality studies. Statistically significant improvements did not always translate to clinical importance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Low-intensity CIMT protocols may result in comparable improvements to more intensive ones but caution has to be taken when drawing conclusions due to high risk of bias studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":"2023 ","pages":"6636987"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10581859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49683379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jon Damsager Lauesen, Kristian Larsen, Johanne Laursen Lykke, Mona Christensen, Christian Hedelund Arens, Hanne Bigum
{"title":"Healthcare Professionals' Experiences with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) as a Structured Framework for Interprofessional Team Meetings in Danish Stroke Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Cross-Sectoral Collaborative Study.","authors":"Jon Damsager Lauesen, Kristian Larsen, Johanne Laursen Lykke, Mona Christensen, Christian Hedelund Arens, Hanne Bigum","doi":"10.1155/2023/6660296","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2023/6660296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>An ethnographic and phenomenological mapping of the experiences of healthcare professionals with the functional independence measure (FIM) in stroke rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a cross-sectoral qualitative study with triangulation of data from two focus group interviews, 15 individual interviews, and 11 participant observations of FIM assessments performed by six different healthcare professions in interprofessional teams. FIM assessments were performed at hospital and in a community rehabilitation centre as interprofessional meetings with a local facilitator certified in FIM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three overarching themes, learning space, improved interprofessional collaboration, and transferability, emerged from the data. The use of FIM within the provided structures established an environment that allowed the various healthcare professionals (HCP) to learn with, about, and from each other. This is perceived as promoting interprofessional collaboration and enhancing patient-specific knowledge within the interprofessional team. The established patient-specific knowledge is specific to the individual team and is difficult to transfer intraorganisationally and across sectors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FIM was a catalyst for improved interprofessional knowledge transfer and interprofessional collaboration within the individual teams, but intraorganisational and cross-sectoral dissemination of patient-specific knowledge was limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":"2023 ","pages":"6660296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10558266/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41133318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dielise Debona Iucksch, Juliana Siega, Giovanna Cristina Leveck, Luize Bueno de Araujo, Tainá Ribas Mélo, Vera Lúcia Israel
{"title":"Improvement of Balance, Motor Aspects, and Activities of Daily Living in Parkinson's Disease after a Sequential Multimodal Aquatic- and Land-Based Intervention Program.","authors":"Dielise Debona Iucksch, Juliana Siega, Giovanna Cristina Leveck, Luize Bueno de Araujo, Tainá Ribas Mélo, Vera Lúcia Israel","doi":"10.1155/2023/2762863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2762863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative, with heterogeneous clinical conditions and motor changes that reduce functioning. Postural instability is one of the motor aspects of disease progression, with a potential increase in the risk of falls, consequently affecting the activities of daily living (ADL). The objective of this study was to verify the influence of a multimodal intervention program (MIP) sequentially applied in aquatic- (AEs) and land-based environments (LEs) on balance, postural control, motor activities, and ADL in people with PD. It is an interventional clinical study with patients in stages 1 to 4 in the Hoehn and Yahr scale, assessed with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II and III, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and quiet stance (QS) analysis in a force platform. The MIP was conducted sequentially with aquatic- (AIs) and land-based interventions (LIs) for 12 weeks each, twice a week, each session lasting 1 hour, and a 12-week interval between interventions. The comparison analysis was made with Friedman ANOVA, and the multiple comparisons with Wilcoxon signed-rank, Bonferroni correction, and effect size (<i>r</i>). The sample comprised 18 people with PD (66.83 ± 11.74 years). The AI and the full intervention (FI) had a large effect according to BBS. With Mini-BESTest, the LI and FI had a large effect. According to UPDRS II, the MIP improved ADL after LI, with a medium effect, and the motor aspects of UPDRS III improved after LI and FI, with a large effect. DGI was not sensitive in the analyses, with a ceiling effect after FI. No differences were identified in QS analyses. This research identified improved balance, ADL, and motor aspects in people with PD after sequential MIP in AI and LI, indicating that land-based and aquatic interventions are complementary and advantageous to people with PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":"2023 ","pages":"2762863"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9842425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10550471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Role of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation in Pain and Pulmonary Function in Patients after Bariatric Surgery","authors":"C. A. Luchesa, A. Lopes","doi":"10.1155/2022/9138602","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9138602","url":null,"abstract":"Background Changes in lifestyle, a carbohydrate-rich diet, and decreased physical activity are part of the context that led to an obesity pandemic. Treating obesity is a task that requires multidisciplinary care; however, in many cases, conventional therapy has no effect, requiring surgical intervention. This, in turn, is not without risks and causes important changes in lung function. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of electroanalgesia through conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the pain and lung function in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery. Methods This is a controlled and blinded clinical trial with 66 subjects who underwent bariatric surgery. The participants were randomized into 2 groups as follows: an intervention group treated with TENS (n = 33) and a placebo group (n = 33). The participants underwent 4 TENS sessions, and the effect on pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS pain). Lung function was measured by spirometry. Results There were no differences between the 2 groups regarding time of surgery and time of mechanical ventilation. Compared to placebo, TENS reduced pain in the intervention group (p = 0.001). Regarding the effect of electroanalgesia on pulmonary function, the spirometric parameters were similar between the groups. However, regarding muscle strength between the preoperative and postoperative periods, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was maintained in the intervention group and decreased in the placebo group (p = 0.03). Compared with that in the intervention group, the respiratory rate in the placebo group increased during the application of TENS (p = 0.003). Conclusion Electroanalgesia reduces pain in patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Importantly, in these patients, the MIP is maintained between the preoperative and postoperative periods. However, electroanalgesia does not contribute to improvements in spirometric data. This trial is registered with NCT04800640.","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":"2022 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41619427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Britt Stævnsbo Pedersen, M. T. Kristensen, Christian Orhammer Josefsen, K. Lykkegaard, L. R. Jønsson, M. M. Pedersen
{"title":"Validation of Two Activity Monitors in Slow and Fast Walking Hospitalized Patients","authors":"Britt Stævnsbo Pedersen, M. T. Kristensen, Christian Orhammer Josefsen, K. Lykkegaard, L. R. Jønsson, M. M. Pedersen","doi":"10.1155/2022/9230081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9230081","url":null,"abstract":"To evaluate interventions to promote physical activity, valid outcome measures are important. This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the ActivPAL3™ and the SENS motion® activity monitors with regard to the number of steps taken, walking, and sedentary behavior in hospitalized patients (n = 36) (older medical patients (+65 years) (n = 12), older patients (+65) with acute hip fracture (n = 12), and patients (+18) who underwent acute high-risk abdominal surgery (n = 12)). Both monitors showed good (≥60%) percentage agreement with direct observation for standing and no. of steps (all gait speeds) and high agreement (≥80%) for lying. For walking, ActivPAL3™ showed moderate percentage agreement, whereas SENS motion® reached high percentage agreement. The relative reliability was moderate for sedentary behavior for both monitors. The ActivPAL3™ showed poor (walking) to moderate (steps) reliability for walking and steps, whereas SENS motion® showed moderate reliability for both activities. For slow walkers, the relative reliability was moderate for SENS motion® and poor for ActivPAL3™. This trial is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04120740.","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43500669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wachirayongyot Thimabut, Pim Terachinda, W. Kitisomprayoonkul
{"title":"Effectiveness of a Soft Robotic Glove to Assist Hand Function in Stroke Patients: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study","authors":"Wachirayongyot Thimabut, Pim Terachinda, W. Kitisomprayoonkul","doi":"10.1155/2022/3738219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3738219","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose Stroke patients have difficulty performing tasks using their paretic hands. There are limited data on the effects of using a soft robotic glove to assist with hand function. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a soft robotic glove in assisting hand function in stroke patients. Methods This study was a cross-sectional pilot study. Twenty stroke patients with partial or complete hand weakness were recruited from a rehabilitation centre. The Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were performed under two conditions: with and without use of the soft robotic glove. The order of the conditions was randomly assigned by a computer-generated program. Results BBT scores increased 6.4 blocks when using the soft robotic glove (p < 0.001). ARAT grasp, grip, pinch, and overall scores increased by 27.08% (p < 0.01), 28.75% (p < 0.001), 15.89% (p < 0.01), and 21.15% (p < 0.001), respectively, using the glove versus not using the glove. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that using a soft robotic glove can assist a poststroke paretic hand in executing grasp, grip, and pinch.","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":"2022 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64776725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Ohkubo, Atsushi Hanzawa, Keina Miura, T. Sugiyama, R. Ishida, Kenichi Fukuda
{"title":"Clinical Statistics of Dysphagia Rehabilitation Provided on Dental Visits to a Partner Hospital","authors":"M. Ohkubo, Atsushi Hanzawa, Keina Miura, T. Sugiyama, R. Ishida, Kenichi Fukuda","doi":"10.1155/2022/5952423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5952423","url":null,"abstract":"Maintaining oral hygiene is an important yet often neglected aspect of rehabilitation medicine. Our visiting dental team, which provides dental treatments and swallowing rehabilitation, partnered with a medical hospital that had no dental department and began visiting and treating inpatients at this hospital. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of dysphagia rehabilitation, and this was jointly conducted by medical and dental hospitals. The survey was conducted between May 2017 and March 2018. We retrospectively examined dysphagia rehabilitation provided to 25 patients (12 men and 13 women) aged 40–92 years (mean age: 77.1 ± 12.3 years). The largest number of requests for dental treatment was received from the internal medicine department (13 requests, 52.0%). A total of 39 videofluoroscopic or videoendoscopic examinations of swallowing interventions for dysphagia rehabilitation were conducted. All patients' oral and swallowing functions were evaluated using the functional oral intake scale (FOIS). At initial assessment, 9, 13, and 0 patients were at FOIS levels 1, 2, and 3 (use of tube feeding), respectively, and 1, 2, and 0 patients were at FOIS levels 4, 5, and 6 (only oral feeding), respectively. At the final assessment, 6, 10, and 4 patients were at FOIS levels 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and 0, 2, and 3 patients were at FOIS levels 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Oral and swallowing functions differed significantly between the first and final visits (p = 0.02). Visits conducted by a team of oral health practitioners to a medical hospital without a dental department appear to have a major impact and will become even more important in the future.","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45672133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
H. H. M. Battesha, A. Wadee, Marian M Shafeek, A. Tawfick, Hoda M. Ibrahim
{"title":"Maze Control Training on Kinesthetic Awareness in Patients with Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial","authors":"H. H. M. Battesha, A. Wadee, Marian M Shafeek, A. Tawfick, Hoda M. Ibrahim","doi":"10.1155/2022/5063492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5063492","url":null,"abstract":"Objective To determine the influence of adding maze control training to the selected conventional physical therapy on kinesthetic awareness in patients with chronic stroke. Methods Thirty adult patients of both genders with chronic cerebral stroke were assigned to control and experimental groups randomly: the control group (A) received the selected conventional physical therapy rehabilitation program, while the experimental group (B) received the same program as group A in addition to the maze control training. Measurements for sway index, risk of fall, and knee proprioception before and after 8 weeks of treatment (24 sessions; three times per week). Results There were significant decreases of both sway index and risk of fall in both groups (p ≤ 0.001 in all measures), significant improvements of the knee proprioception in 30° and 75° in the experimental group (p value = 0.016 and ≤0.001, respectively). The in-between groups' comparison showed significant differences corresponding to both the sway index and risk of fall (p ≤ 0.001), and a significant difference in 75° (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion Adding maze control training to the selected conventional physical therapy improved the kinesthetic awareness in patients with chronic stroke.","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44311524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Getie Lake Aynalem, Belayneh Ayanaw Kassie, Chernet Baye, Animut Tagele Tamiru, Kiber Temesgen Anteneh, Aster Berhe, Wagaye Fentahun, Tibeb Zena Debele, Birhanu Wubale Yirdaw, Bayew Kelkay Rade, Mihretu Molla Enyew
{"title":"Long-Term Effects of Obstetric Fistula on the Overall Quality of Life among Survivors Who Had Undergone Obstetric Fistula Repair, Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020: A Community-Based Study.","authors":"Getie Lake Aynalem, Belayneh Ayanaw Kassie, Chernet Baye, Animut Tagele Tamiru, Kiber Temesgen Anteneh, Aster Berhe, Wagaye Fentahun, Tibeb Zena Debele, Birhanu Wubale Yirdaw, Bayew Kelkay Rade, Mihretu Molla Enyew","doi":"10.1155/2022/6703409","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2022/6703409","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Childbirth is a special time in the lives of women and families at large. It can also be a time of great tragedy. International reports show that, annually, more than 500,000 women die from pregnancy and childbirth complications globally. For every woman who dies in childbirth, majorities remain alive, but scarred by permanent disabilities. Obstetric fistula is, without a doubt, the most severe of pregnancy-related disabilities.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This research is aimed at assessing the long-term effects of obstetric fistula on the overall quality of life among fistula survivors in central Gondar zone.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women who had undergone obstetric fistula repair, 1-4 years after the surgery, in the central Gondar zone. The participants were reached through appointments that were made by the researchers using census approach after having the participants' contact lists (specific residence and cell phone numbers), and research interviews have taken place at the respondents' home or residence using an adapted and validated tool. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi Info version 7 and SPSS version 20, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 182 fistula survivors were interviewed giving a 94.8% response rate. This study indicated that 84.1% (95% CI: 78.8, 89.4) of respondents had a poor overall quality of life. Maternal age (>30 years) (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI: 2.6, 12.3), marital status (divorced survivors) (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3, 8.5), and urinary incontinence (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 2.4, 11.2) were positive predictors for poor overall quality of life. The majority of fistula survivors, 82.4%, were stigmatized which could make reintegration into the community challenging for them. Healthcare providers have to implement counseling to women for social reintegration and the possibility of gainful societal activities after repairing.</p>","PeriodicalId":45585,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation Research and Practice","volume":"2022 ","pages":"6703409"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8846977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39809855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}