Development and pilot of equine facilitated physical therapy outcome measure tool for chronic low back pain patients.

Equine Facilitated Physical Therapy (EFPT) lacks consistent documentation due to being an unconventional physical therapy treatment to chronic low back pain patients (LBP) and lacking rehabilitation outcome measure tools for a stable (equestrian) environment. The objectives were to develop an online evaluation tool as well as to define inter- and intra-rater reliability to validate the outcome measurement tool "Evaluation of maintaining sitting position (on a horse) and walking (short distances)" designed for LBP patients in EFPT". A total of 48 movement related functions (n = 48), were derived from the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) and organized to an online evaluation tool.

The impact on physical performance, pain and psychological wellbeing of chronic low back pain patients during 12-weeks of equine- facilitated therapy intervention.

Equine - Facilitated Therapy (EFT), an equine environment, and horses themselves can meet many physical and mental health needs beyond diagnostic categories. The horse's ability to produce a walk-like movement and the participant's ability to connect to non-judgemental living creatures, both of which can benefit participation and construct a positive self-image for chronic pain patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of EFT on perceived physical performance, level of pain, pain acceptance, depression and anxiety, and quality of life within a 12-week intervention for chronic low back pain (LBP) patients.

The reasons for using restraint and seclusion in psychiatric inpatient care: A nationwide 15-year study.

Background: The containment or the prevention of actual violence is the primary justification for the use of restraint and seclusion in psychiatry. The aim of the present study was to determine the grounds for using restraint and seclusion in clinical practice in Finland, and whether these reasons have changed over a 15-year period as a result of legislative changes.

Method: A structured postal survey concerning the reasons for restraint and seclusion was completed in all the Finnish psychiatric hospitals during a predetermined week in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1998 and 2004.

Who are the restrained and secluded patients: a 15-year nationwide study.

Background: To find interventions for reducing the use of restraint and seclusion, it is necessary to identify who the restrained and secluded patients are. The aim of the present study was to determine which demographic and clinical groups of psychiatric inpatients are at risk of being restrained/secluded, and whether there have been changes in the restrained/secluded patients' profiles over a 15-year period in Finland.

Method: A structured postal survey concerning the demographic and clinical information of restrained/secluded patients was completed in all Finnish psychiatric hospitals during a predetermined week in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1998, and 2004.

Incidence of seclusion and restraint in psychiatric hospitals: a literature review and survey of international trends.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify quantitative data on the use of seclusion and restraint in different countries and on initiatives to reduce these interventions.

Methods: Combined literature review on initiatives to reduce seclusion and restraint, and epidemiological data on the frequency and means of use in the 21st century in different countries. Unpublished study was detected by contacting authors of conference presentations.