Psychosocial factors associated with the effects of physiotherapy in the acute hospital.

Purpose: To examine the associations between psychosocial factors and physical functioning at admission, and functional recovery during an acute hospital admission.

Method: Included into this multi-centre cohort study were 642 patients with cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions recruited from 32 Swiss hospitals. Functional status was measured at admission and discharge using the Barthel Index (BI); BI change was used as an indicator for functional recovery.

Effects of pharmaceutical counselling on antimicrobial use in surgical wards: intervention study with historical control group.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of pharmaceutical consulting on the quality of antimicrobial use in a surgical hospital department in a prospective controlled intervention study.

Methods: Patients receiving pharmaceutical intervention (intervention group, IG, n = 317) were compared with a historical control group (control group, CG, n = 321). During the control period, antimicrobial use was monitored without intervention.

The ICF forms a useful framework for classifying individual patient goals in post-acute rehabilitation.

Objective: Timely goal setting in close collaboration with the patient is essential to successful rehabilitation. We therefore sought to identify goals of patients in early post-acute rehabilitation as predictors of improved functioning.

Design: We conducted a prospective multi-centre cohort study in 5 early post-acute rehabilitation facilities.

Patients' functioning as predictor of nursing workload in acute hospital units providing rehabilitation care: a multi-centre cohort study.

Background: Management decisions regarding quality and quantity of nurse staffing have important consequences for hospital budgets. Furthermore, these management decisions must address the nursing care requirements of the particular patients within an organizational unit. In order to determine optimal nurse staffing needs, the extent of nursing workload must first be known.

Functioning and health in patients with cancer on home-parenteral nutrition: a qualitative study.

Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in patients with cancer. One possible strategy to prevent malnutrition and further deterioration is to administer home-parenteral nutrition (HPN). While the effect on survival is still not clear, HPN presumably improves functioning and quality of life.