The Swedish version of the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (s-MSES) - translation process and psychometric properties in a community setting.

STUDY DESIGN: Psychometric study. OBJECTIVES: To i) describe the translation process and ii) explore the data completeness, targeting, reliability and aspects of validity of the Swedish version of Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (s-MSES). SETTINGS: Community rehabilitation program. METHODS: Ninety-two program participants and 42 peer mentors with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Active Rehabilitation training programs (enrolled in the International Project for the Evaluation of activE Rehabilitation (Inter-PEER)) were included. The s-MSES was completed online, once for program participants and twice for peer mentors. The translation process was based on guidelines and involved researchers, clinicians and consumers. RESULTS: Minor linguistic adaptations were made. Ninety-one percent obtained a total score. As expected, peer mentors exhibited ceiling effects in all subscales. Cronbach´s alpha for the total scale was 0.92 (subscales 0.74-0.83). The intraclass correlation coefficient was excellent for the total and subscale scores (0.78-0.91). The s-MSES exhibited sensitivity to changes and there were no systematic changes between evaluation points. The s-MSES correlated significantly and positively with life satisfaction and resilience, and negatively with depression/anxiety. CONCLUSION: The s-MSES was translated through a rigorous, consumer-involved process ensuring accurate linguistic translation and cultural adaptation. Our results support the data completeness, targeting, reliability and aspects of validity of the s-MSES. The s-MSES can thus be considered suitable to assess self-efficacy in persons with SCI in community rehabilitation settings. The now available Swedish version of the MSES will facilitate national research, clinical evaluations and international comparisons. SPONSORSHIP: Not applicable.

The vulnerable superhero-a qualitative study investigating how spinal cord injury peer mentors experience their role in Active Rehabilitation training programs.

STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative study. OBJECTIVES: To explore how peer mentors with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience their role in Active Rehabilitation programs in Sweden. SETTING: Community peer-based training programs in Sweden. METHODS: Twenty active peer mentors were strategically selected and invited to participate. Nine individuals of diverse age, level of SCI and time since injury participated in semi-structured interviews via video link. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The theme: Being a vulnerable superhero-a balancing act with rewards was based upon five categories: Being a suitable fit for a demanding culture, Offering a shortcut to coping with spinal cord injury life, Feeling rewarded by helping others, Building trust is reciprocal, and Constituting the norm in a temporary community. The peer mentors expressed vulnerability of sharing life experiences, being a role model and building relationships with mentees. The theme emerged from notions of high expectations and demands of the SCI peer mentor role. Being a peer mentor empowered, educated and inspired the peer mentors themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Peer mentors were continuously balancing between being open and vulnerable, and being strong and capable. Personality traits were reported as more important aspects of the role than physical skills. The individual mentor-mentee meetings and relationships were considered more important than the actual training sessions. Feeling part of a community and the norm through meeting others in a similar situation was perceived as a reward and motivation for participating as a peer mentor.

Tapping into the unimpossible: Philosophical health in lives with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the personal philosophies of eight persons with a tetraplegic condition (four male, four female), all living in Sweden with a chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and all reporting a good life. Our purpose was to discover if there is a philosophical mindset that may play a role in living a good life with a traumatic SCI. METHODS: Two rounds of in-depth qualitative interviews were performed by the same interviewer, a philosophical practitioner by training (de Miranda). The second round systematically covered the following elements: bodily sense, sense of self, sense of belonging, sense of the possible, sense of purpose and philosophical sense. This six-step method developed by de Miranda is called SMILE_PH, an acronym for Sense-Making Interviews Looking at Elements of Philosophical Health. RESULTS: All the interviewees, as a consequence of their trauma, reported having gone through a reinvention of themselves which implied questioning the meaning and purpose of their life in particular and life in general. A philosophical rather than realistic sense of the possible was abstracted toward teleological growth. All interviewees developed a sense of purpose based on self-interested altruism and solidarity with disabled peers. CONCLUSIONS: To reinvent a good life with SCI, in addition to physical training and willpower, one needs to consider philosophical questions about the self and life, what Kant called the cosmic interests of reason: What may I hope? What must I do? What can I know? Our results indicate that we should, in the future, explore what the philosophical health approach may bring to rehabilitation processes in the months or years that follow the trauma.

Two-year follow-up of patients with post-COVID-19 condition in Sweden: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Few studies have reported the long-term health effects of COVID-19. The regional population-based Linköping COVID-19 study (LinCoS) included all patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 during the first pandemic wave. Four months post-discharge, over 40% (185/433) experienced persisting symptoms and activity/participation limitations, indicating post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). The present follow-up study aimed to determine the long-term recovery among these patients 24 months post-admission. Methods: This prospective cohort study included all patients from LinCoS with PCC at four months post-discharge. We repeated the same structured interview at a 24-month follow-up to identify persisting symptoms and their impact on daily life. Intercurrent health issues were identified by reviewing medical records. Findings: Of 185 patients with PCC at 4 months post-discharge, 181 were alive at the 24-month assessment and 165 agreed to participate. Of those, 21% (35/165) had been readmitted to hospital for various causes in the interim period. The majority of patients (139/165, 84%) reported persisting problems affecting everyday life at 24 months. Significant improvements were seen in the prevalence and magnitude of some symptoms/limitations compared with four months post-discharge. Cognitive, sensorimotor, and fatigue symptoms were the most common persisting symptoms at 24 months. No clear difference was evident between individuals treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU-treated individuals. Approximately half of those who were on sick leave related to PCC at four months after infection were on sick leave at 24 months. Interpretation: This is one of the first studies to report 2-year outcomes in patients with PCC following COVID-19 hospitalisation. Despite some improvements over time, we found a high prevalence of persisting symptoms and a need for long-term follow-up and rehabilitation post COVID-19 infection. Funding: The study was funded by Region Östergötland.

Neurocognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients five months after discharge from hospital.

This observational cohort study explored objective neurocognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients five months after discharge, and any associations with demographic factors and disease severity indicators. Medical notes of all COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital in Region Östergötland, Sweden, March-May 2020, were reviewed. After applying exclusion criteria, 433 patients were screened by telephone. Of these, 185 patients reported persistent and concerning post-COVID-19 problems, including but not restricted to cognitive functions, and were invited to a clinical evaluation. The Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Colour-Word Interference Test (CWIT) were used to assess immediate memory, visuo-spatial function, language, attention, delayed memory, and executive function. A total of 133 patients had valid test performances. Mean RBANS Global Cognition Score was 83.4, with 37% scoring below cut-off (1.5 SD). Deficits in Attention and Memory indices were most common, each affecting approximately 30% of the patients. After adjustment for sex, language, level of education and premorbid function, neurocognitive performance was positively associated with length of hospital stay, but not with the disease severity indicators WHO CPS and CRP. Findings support that comprehensive neuropsychological assessment should be performed when patients report post-COVID-19 symptoms that affect daily life.

Seven Domains of Persisting Problems after Hospital-treated Covid-19 Indicate a Need For a Multiprofessional Rehabilitation Approach.

OBJECTIVES: To identify domains of persisting problems at 4 months after discharge in patients previously hospitalized due to COVID-19, with a focus on a subgroup of patients reporting symptoms to an extent indicative of rehabilitation needs. DESIGN: Ambidirectional observational cohort study. PATIENTS: All patients with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to hospital in a Swedish healthcare region during the period 1 March to 31 May 2020. After exclusion, 94% of all survivors (n = 433) participated in the study. Forty-three percent (n = 185) of these reported persisting problems indicating rehabilitation needs and formed a subgroup. METHODS: Explorative factor analysis based on results from comprehensive telephone interviews covering persisting symptoms, including assessment of impact on daily life. RESULTS: Seven domains were identified, comprising problems related to vision, cognition, mental fatigue, swallowing, voice, sensorimotor dysfunction, and feeling anxious/depressed. The patients in the subgroup reported a median of 8 symptoms/limitations affecting everyday life, and two-thirds reported symptoms/limitations in 3 or more domains. CONCLUSION: Seven problem domains corresponding to specific modalities of rehabilitative interventions were identified. A majority of patients reported problems from several domains, indicating the need for multiprofessional teams in post-COVID-19 rehabilitation. Screening of patients previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 should cover all 7 domains of persisting problems.

Temporal changes in demographic and injury characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Nordic countries - a systematic review with meta-analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. OBJECTIVES: To explore temporal changes in incidence rates, demographic and injury characteristics of incident traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Nordic countries. METHODS: Peer-reviewed publications and periodic reports about epidemiology of TSCI in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) are identified, reviewed and included in the meta-analysis. Data are stratified into 20-year intervals to allow for chronological comparisons. Pooled estimates are derived using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three data sources are included presenting a total of 5416 cases. The pooled incidence rate for 2001-2020 is 15.4 cases/million/year compared to 17.6 and 18.3 cases/million/year during the two previous 20-year intervals. The proportion of cases with TSCI in the 15-29 age-group decreases from 50% (1961-1980) to 20% (2001-2020), while it increases from 9% to 35% in 60+ age-group. Transportation-related injuries decrease from 44% (1961-1980) to 27% (2001-2020). Conversely, fall-related injuries increase from 32% (1961-1980) to 46% (2001-2020). The proportion of individuals with incomplete tetraplegia increases from 31% (1961-1980) to 43% (2001-2020), while complete paraplegia decreases from 25% to 16%. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of TSCI in the Nordic countries have changed drastically over the last six decades, in line with clinical experiences, and limited research evidence from other countries. These changes indicate the need for adapting research focus, prevention strategies, design and provision of care, rehabilitation and community services towards older individuals, fall-related injuries, and incomplete injuries in Nordic countries and other settings internationally where such changes occur.

Improved 60-day survival but impaired general health in Swedish ICU-COVID patients: An ambidirectional population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Survival among critically ill COVID-19 patients varies between countries and time periods. Mortality rates up to 60% have been reported in intensive care units (ICUs). Standard-of-care has evolved throughout the pandemic. The purpose of the study was to explore management and mortality of COVID-19 ICU-patients during the first pandemic wave and assess their post-ICU health status. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory observational ambidirectional population-based study of ICU-patients with COVID-19 in a Swedish county during 1 March-30 June 2020. Primary outcome was 60-day mortality with secondary outcomes including treatments, complications, self-reported general health and dyspnoea post-discharge. Patients were consecutively divided into equal tertiles with cut-offs on April 4 and April 20, 2020, to analyse time trends. RESULTS: One hundred patients, median age was 63 years, were included, and 60-day mortality rate was 22%. Ninety-one percent had moderate/severe ARDS and 88% required mechanical ventilation. In the first tertile of patients 60-day mortality was 33%, declining to 15% and 18% in the following two. This reduction paralleled increased use of thromboprophylaxis, less steep rise of treated ICU-patients per day and expanded ICU resources. Four months post-discharge, 63% of survivors reported self-assessed decline in general health retrospectively compared to prior COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the initial 60-day mortality quickly declined, despite continuous admittance of critically ill patients. This was parallel to adaptation to increased workload and more intense thromboembolic prophylaxis. A majority of survivors reported declined general health four months after discharge. Further studies on long-term health status of ICU-survivors are indicated.

The incidence and characteristics of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a regional nontertiary Australian intensive care unit: A retrospective clinical audit study.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common complication of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. The incidence, patient characteristics, and outcomes have not been described in a regional Australian setting. OBJECTIVES: Τhe primary objective was to establish the incidence of VAP in a regional intensive care unit using predetermined diagnostic criteria. The secondary objective was to compare the agreement between criteria-based and physician-based diagnostic processes. The tertiary objectives were to compare patient characteristics and clinical outcomes of cases with and without VAP. METHODS: A retrospective clinical audit was performed of adult patients admitted to Rockhampton Intensive Care Unit, Australia, between 2013 and 2016. We included all patients ventilated for ≥72 h and not diagnosed with a pneumonia before or during the first 72 h of ventilation. RESULTS: A total of 170 cases met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of VAP as per the criteria-based diagnosis was 27.3 cases per 1000 ventilator days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.4-36.2) and as per the physician-based diagnosis was 25.8 cases per 1000 ventilator days (95% CI: 17.1-34.4). There was a moderate chance-corrected agreement between the criteria- and physician-based diagnosis. Very obese cases (body mass index [BMI] ≥40) were nearly four times more likely to develop VAP than cases with normal BMI (BMI <30) (odds ratio: 3.664; 95% CI: 1.394-9.634; p = 0.008). After controlling for sex, BMI category, comorbidities, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, there was a trend (p = 0.283) for higher adjusted mortality rate for cases with VAP (10.1%, 95% CI: 4.8-21.5) than for those without VAP (6.1%, 95% CI: 3.0-12.4). Cases with VAP had a higher total hospital cost ($123,223 AUD vs $66,425 AUD, p < 0.001), than cases without VAP. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting incidence of VAP in an Australian regional intensive care unit setting. An increased length of stay and significantly higher hospital costs warrant research investigating reliable and valid clinical prediction rules to forecast those at risk of VAP.

Rehabilitation needs following COVID-19: Five-month post-discharge clinical follow-up of individuals with concerning self-reported symptoms.

BACKGROUND: This report describes and objectivizes reported problems among a cohort of previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients by clinical examination and determination of the required level of rehabilitation sevices. METHODS: This report forms part of the Linköping COVID-19 Study (LinCoS) that included 745 individuals from one of 21 Swedish healthcare regions, Region Östergötland (RÖ), admitted to hospital for COVID-19 during March 1st-May 31st, 2020. In this descriptive ambidirectional cohort study, all 185 individuals who had reported concerning persisting symptoms were invited to a multi-professional clinical assessment of somatic, functional, affective, neuropsychological status and rehabilitation needs. Rehabilitation needs were assessed using three sub-scales of the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale-Extended. FINDINGS: Among the 158 (85·4%) cases consenting and included in the analysis, we found a broad array of symptoms and signs attributable to COVID-19 involving respiratory, visual, auditory, motor, sensory and cognitive functions that could be confirmed clinically at five months post-discharge. This translated into 16% [95% CI 13-20] of survivors (70/433) of the total regional cohort of hospitalised patients requiring further rehabilitative interventions at follow-up. Weakness in extremities was reported in 28·5% [21·6, 36·2] (45/158). On examination, clinically overt muscle weakness could be corroborated in 15 individuals (10·5%) [6·1, 16·4]. 48% [40, 56] (76/158) reported cognitive symptoms, while the physician noted overt cognitive impairments in only 3% [1·1, 7·5]. In neuropsychological testing, 37% [28-46] (45/122) performed 1.5 SD below the norm, indicating neurocognitive deficits. Fifty-five individuals (34·8%) [27·4, 42·8] reported new or aggravated pain. In three fourths of them, it exerted a 'moderate' or worse detrimental effect on their ability to work. INTERPRETATION: Our study underscores the importance of providing extensive examination of cases with persisting problems after COVID-19, especially since symptoms such as fatigue and breathlessness are highly nonspecific, but may represent significant underlying functional impairments. Robust neurocognitive testing should be performed, as cognitive problems may easily be overlooked during routine medical consultation. In the Swedish context, most rehabilitative interventions could be provided in a primary care setting. A substantial minority of patients should be triaged to specialized rehabilitation services.

Brain MRI and neuropsychological findings at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To report findings on brain MRI and neurocognitive function, as well as persisting fatigue at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation in patients identified as high risk for affection of the central nervous system. DESIGN: Ambidirectional observational cohort study. SETTING: All 734 patients from a regional population in Sweden with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to hospital during the period 1 March to 31 May 2020. PARTICIPANTS: A subgroup (n=185) with persisting symptoms still interfering with daily life at a telephone follow-up 4 months after discharge were invited for a medical and neuropsychological evaluation. Thirty-five of those who were assessed with a neurocognitive test battery at the clinical visit, and presented a clinical picture concerning for COVID-19-related brain pathology, were further investigated by brain MRI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings on brain MRI, neurocognitive test results and reported fatigue. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (71%) had abnormalities on MRI; multiple white matter lesions were the most common finding. Sixteen patients (46%) demonstrated impaired neurocognitive function, of which 10 (29%) had severe impairment. Twenty-six patients (74%) reported clinically significant fatigue. Patients with abnormalities on MRI had a lower Visuospatial Index (p=0.031) compared with the group with normal MRI findings. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients selected to undergo MRI after a clinical evaluation, a majority of patients had abnormal MRI and/or neurocognitive test results. Abnormal findings were not restricted to patients with severe disease.

Rehabilitation needs and mortality associated with the Covid-19 pandemic: a population-based study of all hospitalised and home-healthcare individuals in a Swedish healthcare region.

BACKGROUND: This first report of the Linköping Covid-19 Study (LinCoS) aimed at determination of Covid-19-associated mortality, impairments, activity and participation limitations denoting rehabilitation needs four months after discharge from hospital. METHODS: An ambidirectional population-based cohort study including all confirmed Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital during 1/03-31/05 and those living in home healthcare settings identified through a regional registry and evaluated through medical records, including WHO Clinical Progression Scale (CPS). All patients discharged from hospital were followed-up by structured telephone interview at 4 months post-discharge. Respondents indicated any new or aggravated persisting problems in any of 25 body functions and 12 activity/participation items and rated them for impact on daily life. FINDINGS: Out of 734 hospitalised patients, 149 were excluded, 125 died, and 460 were alive at 4-month follow-up of whom 433 (94.1%) were interviewed. In total, 40% reported impairments and activity/participation limitations affecting daily life and warranted further multi-professional rehabilitation assessment, predominantly those with severe disease and a considerable proportion of those with moderate disease. Cognitive and affective impairments were equally common in all groups and were reported by 20-40% of cases. Limb weakness was reported by 31%, with CPS 7-9 being four times more likely to report this problem as compared to CPS 4-5. 26% of those working or studying reported difficulties returning to these activities, this being 3.5 times more likely in CPS 7-9 as compared to CPS 4-5. 25% reported problems walking >1 km, with CPS 7-9 over three times more likely to report this as compared to the other two sub-groups. 90-day mortality rate of Covid-19 associated deaths was 15.1%. INTERPRETATION: Most rehabilitation needs after Covid-19 involved higher cerebral dysfunction both in patients with moderate and severe disease. This should be considered when designing services aiming at minimizing long-term disability. FUNDING: ALF grant and Region Östergötland.

Sound psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Self-Report.

OBJECTIVE: To describe data completeness, targeting and reliability of the Swedish version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Self-Report (s-SCIM-SR). DESIGN: Translation and reliability study. SUBJECTS: Programme participants (n = 48) and peer mentors (n = 42) with spinal cord injury enrolled in the INTERnational Project for the Evaluation of "activE Rehabilitation" (inter-PEER). METHODS: The translation process was based on guidelines/recommendations, and involved expert competence, including consumers. The s-SCIM-SR was distributed online, once for programme participants and twice for peer mentors. RESULTS: Sixty-nine individuals (77%) obtained a total score. Most missing data were found in the items Respiration and Using the toilet. Cronbach's alpha for the full scale was 0.89, for Self-care 0.92, for Respiration and sphincter management 0.37 and for Mobility 0.86. The intraclass correlation coefficient was excellent for all subscales and the full scale. Measures of variability showed high sensitivity to changes and Bland Altman analyses revealed no systematic changes between evaluation points. CONCLUSION: These results support the data completeness, targeting and reliability of the Swedish version of the SCIM-SR. However, some problems were found in the subscale Respiration and sphincter management. The s-SCIM-SR can be considered psychometrically sound and suitable to assess physical independence among persons with spinal cord injury in Swedish community settings.

INTERnational Project for the Evaluation of "activE Rehabilitation" (inter-PEER) - a protocol for a prospective cohort study of community peer-based training programmes for people with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Active Rehabilitation (AR) is a community peer-based concept for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) that is primarily delivered through brief residential training programmes. Despite a plethora of positive anecdotal evidence of AR programmes as life-changing experiences, the effects of AR-programmes have not been evaluated scientifically. Here, we present the protocol of the INTERnational Project for the Evaluation of "activE Rehabilitation" (inter-PEER) aiming to evaluate the effects of AR training programmes on community-dwelling individuals with SCI. METHODS: International prospective cohort study that recruits consecutive participants in AR training programmes. Evaluation is conducted through a web-based survey at 3 time-points: at the commencement and completion of the training programme, and 3 months after the end of the training programme. Evaluation also includes a practical wheelchair skills test at the first two time-points. The primary outcome measures are the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Self-report (SCIM-SR), the Queensland Evaluation of Wheelchair Skills test (QEWS), the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q) and the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES). The secondary outcome measures are the 11-item Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11), the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-Participation), the Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for people with SCI (LTPAQ-SCI) and the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). We piloted the implementation of the protocol in Sweden in 7 participants with diverse SCI and sociodemographic characteristics and collected feedback from participants and peer-mentors about study procedures through interviews, a workshop and field observations. DISCUSSION: Inter-PEER is the first initiative to propose a systematic evaluation of the effects of AR training programmes among individuals with SCI. The project is a collaborative work of multiple stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, peer mentors with SCI, and administrators of organisations providing AR programmes. The inter-PEER uses standardised outcome measures relevant to the AR context, it will facilitate quality evaluations of community peer-based programmes, stimulate international collaborations, and inform the design of randomised controlled trials on the effects of AR training programmes.

The use of an e-learning module on return to work advice for physiotherapists - A prospective cohort study.

Background: Nonspecific low back pain (LBP) can progress to chronic disability and prolonged absence from work. Despite clinical and professional guidelines, physiotherapists often fail to address return to work outcomes. Aims: The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether an e-learning resource tailored to physiotherapy practice could affect physiotherapists' attitudes and beliefs regarding return to work advice for their patients. Design: A prospective interventional cohort study (pilot). Methods: Participants were recruited via the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy website. Responses on a clinical vignette, the Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Scale (HC-Pairs), and the Behavioral Constructs Questionnaire (BCQ) were collected online at baseline (Q1) and 2-months post-intervention (Q2). Results: Fifty-four physiotherapists completed Q1 and the response rate for Q2 was 44/54 (81%). Changes in the degree of agreement with guidelines indicated that the intervention made an impact on respondents (kappa 0.345; p = 0.003). HC-Pairs and BCQ results showed a nonstatistically significant trend toward the target behavior. Conclusions: There is a need for interventions to improve adherence with advice for return to work following nonspecific LBP. An e-learning tool for physiotherapists on advising patients regarding return to work has potential to positively affect self-reported clinical behavior.

Does face-to-face pre-operative joint replacement education reduce hospital costs in a regional Australian hospital? A descriptive retrospective clinical audit.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether attending a face-to-face pre-operative joint replacement education in a regional setting reduces overall hospital costs and length of stay (LOS) following total knee replacement (TKR) or total hip replacement (THR). METHODS: A retrospective clinical audit reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent an elective THR or TKR at Rockhampton Hospital in regional Queensland, Australia, between 03/2015 and 12/2016 (22 months). The pre-operative joint replacement education class was provided by a multidisciplinary team that included a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a dietician, a pharmacist and a social worker. In addition to demographic data, we extracted and analysed data related to total acute care and total healthcare cost, prevalence of post-operative complications, discharge destination and comorbidities (using the Functional Comorbidity Index). RESULTS: Out of 326 cases that were included in the analysis, 115 cases with TKR and 51 cases with THR attended a pre-operative education class. Demographic characteristics between those attending and not attending the class were largely similar, except from more females attending in the THR group. There was no difference in hospital costs or LOS between those who attended the class compared to those who did not for both the TKR and THR groups. Outcomes related to total acute stay costs, total cost including travel and education and score for Functional Comorbidities Index were similar between those who attended the class and those who did not. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative education does not reduce hospital costs (surgery and hospital stay) in Central Queensland.

Active Rehabilitation for persons with spinal cord injury in Botswana - effects of a community peer-based programme.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with a repeated measures analysis. OBJECTIVES: To measure the effects of the Active Rehabilitation (AR) training programme for community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Botswana on physical independence, wheelchair mobility, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, level of physical activity and community participation. SETTING: The inaugural AR training programme in Botswana, a community peer-based programme for people with SCI. The 10-day residential programme in Botswana was led by an international team of peer mentors and health professionals. METHODS: Participants with SCI (on average 4 years after injury) completed a survey comprising a battery of standardised outcome measures at three timepoints: at the start, on completion and at 5 months after the programme (n = 14). Participants also completed a practical wheelchair skills test at start and completion of the programme (n = 17). RESULTS: Participants improved in the mobility subscale of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Self Report on completion (p = 0.011, d = 0.85) and at 5-month follow-up (p = 0.005, d = 0.93) as compared to baseline. They also achieved moderate improvement in self-efficacy to manage their condition (physical function domain of Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale) and large improvements in wheelchair mobility as assessed through the Queensland Evaluation of Wheelchair Skills test and the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire. All positive results were retained at 5-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that the peer-based programme AR can play an important role in promoting physical independence, wheelchair mobility and injury-management self-efficacy in community-dwelling individuals with SCI in Botswana.

Self-reported health problems and prioritized goals in community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To explore self-reported health problems and functional goals in community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury in Sweden. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study that used a survey designed by an experienced peer mentor with spinal cord injury. SUBJECTS: Community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury from Sweden. METHODS: The survey was distributed online by the community peer-based organization RG Active Rehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 203 individuals (55% males, 90% acquired spinal cord injury) from all regions in Sweden completed the survey. Of these, 33% reported living with > 2 unbearable physical or psychological problems. While some problems (e.g. problems related to bladder and balance) were consistently ranked to be common across all years since injury and type of spinal cord injury, distribution of some other unbearable problems (e.g. type of pain, excessive weight) varied between subgroups. Years since injury, level of acquired spinal cord injury and sex, but not age-group or type of spinal cord injury, explained some of the variation in the goals. CONCLUSION: The high proportion of reported "unbearable" problems point to the stronger need for systematic, comprehensive, life-long, multi-disciplinary follow-up for people with spinal cord injury. The high rate of goals related to improving strength and fitness across all participants independently of their characteristics highlight the important role of community organizations that offer such lifetime services.

Incidence and characteristics of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a regional non-tertiary Australian intensive care unit: protocol for a retrospective clinical audit study.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a medical complication associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Most studies looking at VAP originate from major, tertiary intensive care units (ICUs). Our understanding of VAP in regional hospitals is limited. Given that patient characteristics often differ between metropolitan and regional centres, it is important to investigate VAP in a regional non-tertiary ICU. This project will establish and report the incidence, case characteristics and outcomes including mortality and length of stay related to VAP in a regional non-tertiary Australian ICU. Furthermore, it will compare the incidence of VAP in accordance with consultant diagnosed cases in the medical record, and by a post hoc screening of all cases against a list of previously published diagnostic criteria. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This retrospective clinical audit study will screen medical records from the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016. All cases requiring mechanical ventilation for ≥72 hours will be screened against previously reported diagnostic criteria for VAP. At the same time, their medical records will be screened for a documented diagnosis of VAP. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been granted ethical approval from the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/17/QCQ/11) and the Central Queensland University Human Research Ethics Committee (H17/05-102). This study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and presented at internal workshops (within Queensland Health) and national and/or international scientific conferences.

Late mortality during the first year after acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a prospective, population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the possible impact of the system of care on mortality during the first year after acute traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate late mortality (i.e., >7 days after trauma) during the first year after acute TSCI in 2 European Union (EU) regions, Thessaloniki in Greece and Stockholm in Sweden. METHODS: This paper is part of the Stockholm Thessaloniki Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Study (STATSCIS), which is a prospective, population-based study. Incidence cohorts of TSCI cases were identified and followed up in both study regions through STATSCIS. Data from Thessaloniki region were collected through physical examination, medical records review, and interviews with TSCI individuals and the medical teams. Data from Stockholm were retrieved mainly from the Nordic Spinal Cord Injury Registry, as well as from direct contact with all intensive care facilities of the region. RESULTS: The annual case mortality rate after acute TSCI was nearly 20% in Thessaloniki and 0% in Stockholm. The mean time of survival after trauma for the 12 mortality cases of Thessaloniki was 47 days (median = 24, SD +/- 67, range = 8-228). Factors associated with mortality were higher age and presence of comorbid spinal disorders but also the inefficient transfer logistics, initially missed spinal instability, and unsuccessfully treated complications. CONCLUSIONS: The annual case mortality rate in Thessaloniki was dramatically higher than in Stockholm. The different approaches to care, one systematic and the other not, is postulated to be an important factor leading to such major discrepancies between the outcomes of these 2 EU regions.