The Minimal assessment Protocol for Cerebral Stroke 2020 (PMIC2020): a multicenter feasibility study in post-stroke inpatient rehabilitation.

Background: In 2008, a Working Group of the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) published the first minimum protocol for assessing stroke patients (PMIC) to define functional needs and outcomes. The recent PMIC revision (PMIC2020) introduces a document for all rehabilitation settings, incorporating updated measurement tools.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the PMIC2020 feasibility and administration time (AT) in post-stroke inpatients and to examine the influence of demographic and clinical variables on AT.

Redefining a minimal rehabilitation assessment protocol for severe acquired brain injuries.

Background: The assessment of patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) is mandatory in every phase and setting of care, and requires a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach, to develop the individual rehabilitation project, and monitor long-term functional outcomes. In 2001 the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) published the minimal assessment protocol for traumatic sABI, providing a comprehensive, standardized functional assessment based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), 2001. In 2007, a new protocol was published, extended to all sABI patients (PMGCA).

Self-Management in Stroke Survivors: Development and Implementation of the Look after Yourself (LAY) Intervention.

Objective: Self-management is recommended in stroke rehabilitation. This report aims to describe timing, contents, and setting of delivery of a patient-centered, self-management program for stroke survivors in their early hospital rehabilitation phase: the Look After Yourself (LAY) intervention.

Methods: After extensive literature search, the LAY intervention was developed by integrating the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, based on the self-efficacy construct of social cognitive theory, with evidence-based key elements and input from stroke survivors.

Redefining a minimal assessment protocol for stroke rehabilitation: the new "Protocollo di Minima per l'ICtus" (PMIC2020).

The use of standardized assessment protocols is strongly recommended to identify patient's needs, outcomes, and predictors of response to specific interventions in Stroke rehabilitation. In 2008, the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) published the minimal protocol for the person with stroke ("Protocollo di Minima per l'ICtus" [PMIC]), in reference to the International classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. In 2019, the SIMFER appointed a working group to provide a revised, updated version in line with the most recent literature and suitable for all rehabilitation settings: the PMIC2020.

Effect of body-part specificity and meaning in gesture imitation in left hemisphere stroke patients.

Previous studies showed that imitation of finger and hand/arm gestures could be differentially impaired after brain damage. However, so far, the interaction between gesture meaning and body part in imitation deficits has not been fully assessed. In the present study, we aimed at filling this gap by testing 36 unilateral left brain-damaged patients with and without apraxia (20 apraxics), and 29 healthy controls on an imitation task of either finger or hand/arm meaningful (MF) gestures and meaningless (ML) movements, using a large sample of stimuli and controlling for the composition of the experimental list.

The Look After Yourself (LAY) intervention to improve self-management in stroke survivors: Results from a quasi-experimental study.

Objective: To test the efficacy of a self-management intervention for stroke survivors vs. usual care.

Methods: Using a quasi-experimental study, participants were recruited from three public Italian hospitals.

Self-management and self-efficacy in stroke survivors: validation of the Italian version of the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.

Background: Self-efficacy is an important mediator of the adaptation process after stroke. However, few studies have attempted to measure self-efficacy in a stroke population. The most recently developed scale is the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire that measures self-efficacy ratings in specific domains of functioning relevant for a stroke survivor.

Effectiveness of adaptive physical activity combined with therapeutic patient education in stroke survivors at twelve months: a non-randomized parallel group study.

Background: Adaptive physical activity (APA) is a community-based exercise program for chronic stroke survivors that proved to be effective in improving physical functioning and psychological well-being in the short term.

Aim: The aim of the present paper is to determine the effectiveness at twelve months of an intervention of APA combined with therapeutic patient education (TPE) in stroke survivors.

Design: This study is a non-randomized parallel group study comparing APA-TPE intervention with treatment as usual (TAU).

Impact of adapted physical activity and therapeutic patient education on functioning and quality of life in patients with postacute strokes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether the combination of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) and Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) improves function and quality of life in survivors of strokes.

Methods: This nonrandomized controlled study enrolled patients with mild to moderate hemiparesis referred to 2 physical medicine and rehabilitation units in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, 3 to 18 months after a single unilateral mild to moderate stroke. The experimental group (n = 126) received 16 APA sessions and 3 sessions of TPE, and the control group (n = 103) received usual care; 86.

Survey of the reporting characteristics of systematic reviews in rehabilitation.

Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) have become increasingly important for informing clinical practice; however, little is known about the reporting characteristics and the quality of the SRs relevant to the practice of rehabilitation health professionals.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the reporting quality of a representative sample of published SRs on rehabilitation, focusing on the descriptive, reporting, and bias-related characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by searching MEDLINE for aggregative and configurative SRs indexed in 2011 that focused on rehabilitation as restorative of functional limitations.

Family burden after severe brain injury: the Italian experience with families and volunteer associations.

Background: As part of the development of the Italian National Consensus Conference investigating the period from the hospital rehabilitation of patients with severe brain injury to their return to the community, a working group was appointed to identify the needs of brain injury patients and their families in Italy.

Methods: Two postal self-administered survey questionnaires were carried out: one targeted families of patients with severe brain injury to evaluate their objective and subjective burdens and needs; the other focused on the viewpoints of volunteer associations helping people with severe brain injury. Issues explored were quality of discharge from hospital (information received, family participation, etc.

Sensory stimulation of brain-injured individuals in coma or vegetative state: results of a Cochrane systematic review.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of sensory stimulation programmes in patients in coma or vegetative state.

Design: Systematic review of randomized control trials (RCT) and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials (CCT) comparing any type of stimulation programmes with standard rehabilitation in patients in coma or vegetative state. The Injuries Group specialized register, the Cochrane Controlled trial register, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PSYCHLIT from 1966 to January 2002 were searched without language restriction.