Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Ownership Type Yields Mixed Performances on Quality Measures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) ownership type on IRF-Quality Reporting Program (IRF-QRP) measures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational design. SETTING: We used 2 Centers for Medicare and Medicare publicly-available, facility-level data sources: (1) IRF compare files and (2) IRF rate setting files - final rule. Data from 2021 were included. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample included 1092 IRFs (N=1092). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We estimated the effects of IRF ownership type, defined as for-profit and nonprofit, on 15 IRF-QRP measures using general linear models. Models were adjusted for the following facility-level characteristics: (1) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid census divisions; (2) number of discharges; (3) teaching status; (4) freestanding vs hospital unit; and (5) estimated average weight per discharge. RESULTS: Ownership type was significantly associated with 9 out of the fifteen IRF-QRP measures. Nonprofit IRFs performed better with having lower readmissions rates within stay and 30-day post discharge. For-profit IRFs performed better for all the functional measures and with higher rates of returning to home and the community. Lastly, for-profit IRFs spent more per Medicare beneficiary. CONCLUSIONS: Ideally, IRF performance would not vary based on ownership type. However, we found that ownership type is associated with IRF-QRP performance scores. We suggest that future studies investigate how ownership type affects patient-level outcomes and the longitudinal effect of ownership type on IRF-QRP measures.

Participants With Acquired Brain Injury Realized They "Could Still Do Things" After a Yoga Intervention: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

IMPORTANCE: Occupational therapy practitioners use yoga in practice to achieve holistic care, and the American Occupational Therapy Association has provided guidance on the use of yoga in occupational therapy. For people with acquired brain injury (ABI), however, it is unknown whether yoga affects occupational performance. OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceived impact of an adapted yoga intervention on occupational performance using the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (4th ed.; OTPF-4) for participants with ABI. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study using virtual, semistructured interviews. An inductive, holistic, open-coding process, followed by a deductive process to map open codes to the OTPF-4. PARTICIPANTS: Nine individuals with ABI were recruited from a yoga intervention study. RESULTS: The theme generated from the data-"Yoga participants with ABI realized that they could still do quite a bit"-was supported by two major categories from the OTPF-4: Occupations and Performance Skills. Participants described improvements in their functional performance (i.e., motor skills, process skills) and how these factors were synergistically connected to their occupational performance (i.e., self-care, leisure). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study provides novel insight into how functional performance improved so participants could "still do things," such as engaging in occupations. When participants described improved performance skills, they simultaneously described re-engagement with their meaningful occupations. Participants also perceived an improvement in their mind-body connection, which should be further explored in future studies. This study generated original findings about participants' perceptions of an adapted yoga intervention as they relate to the OTPF-4. Plain-Language Summary: This study reports individuals' perceptions of their re-engagement with occupations and changes in occupational performance skills after participating in an adaptive yoga intervention. We highlight the distinct contribution that adaptive yoga-an intervention modality that can be used by occupational therapy practitioners-may have, using the OTPF-4 to connect the participants' perceptions about their improvements in occupational performance.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Adoption of Evidence-Based Interventions for Adults Within Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice Settings: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Synthesize data regarding barriers and facilitators of adoption (ie, adoption determinants) of evidence-based occupational (OT) and physical therapy (PT) interventions within real-world practice. Whether evidence varied across disciplines, settings, and use of theoretical frameworks was also examined. DATA SOURCES: Literature published from database inception to December 9, 2022, in OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, OVID PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION: Original research including: (1) stakeholder insight into adoption determinants; (2) discrete evidence-based interventions delivered/supervised by an OT and/or PT; (3) intervention recipients aged 18 or older; and (4) data regarding adoption determinants. Two reviewers independently screened and evaluated studies for inclusion, with a third resolving discrepancies. Of the 3036 articles identified, 45 articles were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted by a primary reviewer, independently evaluated by a second reviewer, and conflicts were resolved via group consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS: A descriptive synthesis approach was used to categorize adoption determinants according to constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. 87% of studies were published after 2014. Many studies: described PT interventions (82%); were within the outpatient setting (44%); had data gathered after implementing the intervention (71%); and did not report use of a theoretical framework to inform data collection (62%). Lack of available resources (64%) and knowledge/beliefs about the intervention (53%) were the most common barrier and facilitator, respectively. Variability in adoption determinants was observed according to discipline, setting, and use of a theoretical framework. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a recent surge of scientific investment in understanding adoption determinants for evidence-based OT and PT interventions. Such knowledge can inform efforts aimed at improving OT and PT quality, thereby enhancing patient outcomes. However, our review highlighted gaps with significant implications for the delivery of evidence-based OT and PT within real-world practice settings.

Mobility Interventions for Patients With Disorders of Consciousness Following a Traumatic Brain Injury (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of mobility interventions to improve arousal and awareness in people with disorders of consciousness following a traumatic brain injury.

Noninvasive Nerve Stimulation for Patients With Disorders of Consciousness Following a Traumatic Brain Injury (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of noninvasive nerve stimulation to improve arousal and awareness in people with disorders of consciousness following a traumatic brain injury.

Animal-Assisted Therapy for Patients With Disorders of Consciousness Following a Traumatic Brain Injury (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy to improve arousal and awareness for people with disorders of consciousness following a traumatic brain injury.

Sensory Stimulation for Patients With Disorders of Consciousness Following a Traumatic Brain Injury (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of sensory stimulation interventions to improve arousal and awareness in people with disorders of consciousness following a TBI.

Learning Health Systems Can Promote and Sustain High-Value Occupational Therapy.

In the current policy context, the occupational therapy profession must act to promote and sustain high-value care. Stakeholders have delineated efforts, such as defining and measuring high-quality care processes or promoting the adoption of evidence into practice, that can enhance the value of occupational therapy services. There is a growing recognition, however, that low-value care is the product of deficiencies within health care systems and is therefore most amenable to system-level solutions. To date, the specific nature of system-level changes capable of identifying and rectifying low-value occupational therapy has yet to be elucidated. In this "The Issue Is. . ." column, we introduce occupational therapy to the Learning Health System concept and its essential functions. Moreover, we discuss action steps for occupational therapy stakeholders to lay the foundation for Learning Health Systems in their own professional contexts. What This Article Adds: This article is the first to outline concrete action steps needed to transform occupational therapy practice contexts into Learning Health Systems. Such a transformation would represent a system-level change capable of fostering the delivery of high-value occupational therapy services to clients in a variety of practice settings.

Exploring Knowledge Translation Concepts in U.S. Occupational Therapy Research: A Content Analysis.

IMPORTANCE: As a new Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® standard, knowledge translation (KT) is an important concept to occupational therapy. A better understanding of KT in occupational therapy research could inform its relevance to occupational therapy education, research, and practice. OBJECTIVE: To answer the question "To what extent does published U.S.-based occupational therapy research that is explicitly underpinned by a KT theory, model, or framework reflect processes and concepts outlined in the knowledge-to-action (KTA) framework?" DESIGN: A systematic search was conducted to purposively sample U.S.-based occupational therapy research. A content analysis of 11 articles explored concepts of the KTA framework. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: KTA was used as a conceptual foundation. RESULTS: Multiple sources of data mapped onto concepts in the knowledge creation cycle and each of the first five concepts of the knowledge action cycle. We found that three concepts from the knowledge action cycle-monitor knowledge use, evaluate outcomes, and sustain knowledge use-were not well represented in the sample. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Future research on the monitoring, evaluation, and sustained use of occupational therapy interventions is needed. The adoption of new interventions is important, and the knowledge of how they are sustained in practice will facilitate the clinical integration of future interventions. What This Article Adds: Occupational therapy research that uses KT lacks an emphasis on monitoring and sustaining evidence-informed interventions. Future research on the integration of such interventions into clinical practice is needed so that best practices in occupational therapy can be promoted.

Psychometric Properties of the Coma Near-Coma Scale for Adults in Disordered States of Consciousness: A Rasch Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the construct validity and measurement precision of the Coma Near-Coma scale (CNC) in measuring neurobehavioral function (NBF) in patients with disorders of consciousness receiving postacute care rehabilitation. DESIGN: Rasch analysis of retrospective data. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=48) with disordered consciousness who were admitted to postacute care rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: CNC. RESULTS: Assessment with CNC repeated weekly until the participant was conscious or discharged from the postacute care facility (451 participant records). Rating scale steps were ordered for all items. Eight of the 10 CNC items evaluated in this study fit the measurement model (χ2=5332.58; df=11; P=.17); pain items formed a distinct construct. The ordering of the 8 items from most to least challenging makes clinical sense and compares favorably with other published hierarchies of NBF. Tactile items are more easily responded to. Visual and auditory items requiring higher cognitive processing were more challenging. In the full sample, the CNC achieved good measurement precision, with a person separation reliability of 0.87. CONCLUSIONS: The items of the CNC reflect good construct validity and acceptable interrater reliability. The measurement precision achieved indicates that the CNC may be used to make decisions about groups of individuals but that these items may not be sufficiently precise for individual patient treatment decision-making.

Combining Items From 3 Federally Mandated Assessments Using Rasch Measurement to Reliably Measure Cognition Across Postacute Care Settings.

OBJECTIVE: To combine items from the Functional Independence Measure, Minimum Data Set (MDS) 2.0, and the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS)-B to reliably measure cognition across postacute care settings and facilitate future studies of patient cognitive recovery. DESIGN: Rasch analysis of data from a prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: Postacute care inclusive of inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=147) receiving rehabilitation services. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional Independence Measure, MDS 2.0, and the OASIS-B. RESULTS: Six cognition items demonstrated good construct validity with no misfitting items, unidimensionality, good precision (person separation reliability, 0.95), and an item hierarchy that reflected a clinically meaningful continuum of cognitive challenge. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first attempt to combine the cognition items from the 3 historically, federally mandated assessments to create a common metric for cognition. These 6 items could be adopted as standardized patient assessment data elements to improve cognitive assessment across postacute care settings.

Psychometric Properties and Sex Differences on the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory Participation Subscale (M2PI) in Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the structural validity of the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory Participation Index (M2PI) in a sample of veterans and to assess whether the tool functioned similarly for male and female veterans. DESIGN: Rasch analysis of M2PI records from the National Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Health Registry database from 2012-2018. SETTING: National VA Polytrauma System of Care outpatient settings. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans with a clinically confirmed history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) (N=6065; 94% male). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: M2PI, a 5-point Likert-type scale with 8 items. For this analysis, the 2 employment items were treated individually for a total of 9 items. RESULTS: The employment items misfit the Rasch Measurement model (paid employment mean square [MnSq]=1.40; other employment MnSq=1.34) and were removed from subsequent iterations. The final model had eigenvalue 1.87 on the first contrast, suggesting unidimensionality of the remaining 7 items. Item order from least to most participation restriction was transportation, self-care, residence management, financial management, initiation, leisure, and social contact. Wright's person separation reliability for nonnormal distributions was 0.93, indicating appropriateness of M2PI for making individual-level treatment decisions. Mean person measure was -0.92±1.34 logits, suggesting that participants did not report restrictions on most items (item mean=0 logits). A total of 3.8% of the sample had the minimum score (no impairment on all items), and 0.2% had the maximum score. Four items had different item calibrations (≥0.25 logits) for female compared with male veterans, but the hierarchy of items was unchanged when the female sample was examined separately. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that, although employment is a poor indicator of participation restrictions among veterans with TBI, the M2PI is unidimensional. Because of subtle differences in scale function between male and female participants, M2PI should be part of a more thorough clinical interview about participation strengths and restrictions.

Association of Therapy Time Per Day With Functional Outcomes and Rate of Recovery in Older Adults After Elective Joint Replacement Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between therapy minutes per length of stay (LOS) day (TMLD), functional outcomes, and rate of functional recovery among older adults after elective hip or knee replacement surgery across postacute (PAC) settings. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data collected for an observational cohort study from 2005 to 2010. SETTING: Four inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) and 7 skilled nursing facilities (SNF). PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 65 years or older (N=162) with Medicare fee-for-service insurance and a primary diagnosis of elective hip or knee replacement. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FIM mobility and self-care measures at discharge. RESULTS: The TMLD was divided into high, medium, and low categories. Participants were grouped into low, medium, and high gain rate groups based on their average change in mobility and self-care FIM measures per LOS day. Gain rate and TMLD groups were crossmapped to create 9 gain-TMLD groups separately for mobility and self-care. There were no significant differences in admission mobility or self-care measures by gain rate and TMLD trajectory or by facility type (IRF or SNF). TMLD was not significantly associated with discharge mobility measures. Participants in high gain trajectories attained independence with mobility and self-care tasks at discharge regardless of TMLD. Those in low gain trajectories needed supervision or assistance on all mobility tasks. Older age and greater pain at discharge were significantly associated with lower odds of being in the medium or high gain rate groups. CONCLUSIONS: For clinicians and facility managers who must care for patients with constrained resources, the shift to value-based reimbursement for rehabilitation services in PAC settings has reinvigorated the question of whether the duration of therapy provided influences patient outcomes. Three hours of daily therapy after joint replacement surgery may exceed what is necessary for recovery. Postsurgical pain management remains a significant challenge in older adults.

A Pilot Trial Examining the Merits of Combining Amantadine and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as an Intervention for Persons With Disordered Consciousness After TBI.

OBJECTIVE: Report pilot findings of neurobehavioral gains and network changes observed in persons with disordered consciousness (DoC) who received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or amantadine (AMA), and then rTMS+AMA. PARTICIPANTS: Four persons with DoC 1 to 15 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Alternate treatment-order, within-subject, baseline-controlled trial. MAIN MEASURES: For group and individual neurobehavioral analyses, predetermined thresholds, based on mixed linear-effects models and conditional minimally detectable change, were used to define meaningful neurobehavioral change for the Disorders of Consciousness Scale-25 (DOCS) total and Auditory-Language measures. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the default mode and 6 other networks was examined. RESULTS: Meaningful gains in DOCS total measures were observed for 75% of treatment segments and auditory-language gains were observed after rTMS, which doubled when rTMS preceded rTMS+AMA. Neurobehavioral changes were reflected in rsFC for language, salience, and sensorimotor networks. Between networks interactions were modulated, globally, after all treatments. CONCLUSIONS: For persons with DoC 1 to 15 years after TBI, meaningful neurobehavioral gains were observed after provision of rTMS, AMA, and rTMS+AMA. Sequencing and combining of treatments to modulate broad-scale neural activity, via differing mechanisms, merits investigation in a future study powered to determine efficacy of this approach to enabling neurobehavioral recovery.

Occupational Therapists' Perspectives and Role With Illness-Induced Trauma From Medical Conditions.

Illness-induced trauma (IIT) might cause a disruption in an individual's occupational performance. To examine occupational therapy practitioners' (OTPs) perspectives and role in addressing IIT. In this descriptive mixed-methods design, 24 OTPs completed an online survey and 10 OTPs participated in a semi-structured 1:1 interview. Survey questions asked about knowledge regarding IIT. Interviews addressed incorporation of IIT knowledge and trauma-informed care (TIC) into practice. Quantitative results showed most OTPs (64%) did not receive TIC training and believed training was inadequate. Qualitative results indicated three major themes: "Impact on Rehabilitation," "Variety of OT Approaches for IIT," and "Barriers to Providing Trauma-Informed Care." Although OTPs report inconsistencies with incorporating TIC into practice, there are similarities with foundational OT skills and TIC. Findings suggest OTPs utilize a TIC approach to support clients with IIT to process and re-engage in meaningful occupations.

How Occupational Therapists Support Clients Who Have Experienced a Traumatic Event Caused by a Medical ConditionResearchers have shown that some individuals who have been hospitalized and diagnosed with a serious medical condition, also have illness-induced trauma (IIT). They developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including mood changes, hyperarousal, and re-experiencing the event. In the criteria to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, there are specific events that are considered traumatic and able to receive a diagnosis. IIT is not considered a traumatic event by the diagnosis criteria. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) frequently work with clients who have potentially experienced IIT. This study aimed at learning about the perspective OTPs have while working with individuals who experienced IIT and their role to address this trauma. The researchers recruited 24 OTPs to complete an online survey and 10 OTPs to participate in a 1:1 interview. Survey questions asked the therapists about their knowledge of IIT. Interview questions asked how therapists incorporate knowledge about IIT and intervention strategies to support clients healing from trauma. Survey results showed the majority of OTPs did not receive formal training on ways to support clients processing trauma or believed their training was not enough when working with clients. Interview results indicated three major ideas: IIT has a negative impact on rehabilitation outcomes, there are a variety of approaches that OTPs use to support clients processing their trauma, and there are barriers to supporting clients with IIT. Even though there are inconsistencies to training and incorporating strategies, many of the foundational skills that OTPs are taught in their education align with the principles and approaches to provide supportive care and consideration of trauma. OTPs use these approaches to support clients processing their trauma from medical conditions and events and help re-engage them in meaningful activities.

Corrigendum: Adaptive yoga versus low-impact exercise for adults with chronic acquired brain injury: a pilot randomized control trial protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1291094.].

Interpreting Change in Disorders of Consciousness Using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised.

The purpose of this study was to differentiate clinically meaningful improvement or deterioration from normal fluctuations in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) following severe brain injury. We computed indices of responsiveness for the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) using data from a clinical trial of 180 participants with DoC. We used CRS-R scores from baseline (enrollment in a clinical trial) and a 4-week follow-up assessment period for these calculations. To improve precision, we transformed ordinal CRS-R total scores (0-23 points) to equal-interval measures on a 0-100 unit scale using Rasch Measurement theory. Using the 0-100 unit total Rasch measures, we calculated distribution-based 0.5 standard deviation (SD) minimal clinically important difference, minimal detectable change using 95% confidence intervals, and conditional minimal detectable change using 95% confidence intervals. The distribution-based minimal clinically important difference evaluates group-level changes, whereas the minimal detectable change values evaluate individual-level changes. The minimal clinically important difference and minimal detectable change are derived using the overall variability across total measures at baseline and 4 weeks. The conditional minimal detectable change is generated for each possible pair of CRS-R Rasch person measures and accounts for variation in standard error across the scale. We applied these indices to determine the proportions of participants who made a change beyond measurement error within each of the two subgroups, based on treatment arm (amantadine hydrochloride or placebo) or categorization of baseline Rasch person measure to states of consciousness (i.e., unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and minimally conscious state). We compared the proportion of participants in each treatment arm who made a change according to the minimal detectable change and determined whether they also changed to another state of consciousness. CRS-R indices of responsiveness (using the 0-100 transformed scale) were as follows: 0.5SD minimal clinically important difference = 9 units, minimal detectable change = 11 units, and the conditional minimal detectable change ranged from 11 to 42 units. For the amantadine and placebo groups, 70% and 58% of participants showed change beyond measurement error using the minimal detectable change, respectively. For the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and minimally conscious state groups, 54% and 69% of participants changed beyond measurement error using the minimal detectable change, respectively. Among 115 participants (64% of the total sample) who made a change beyond measurement error, 29 participants (25%) did not change state of consciousness. CRS-R indices of responsiveness can support clinicians and researchers in discerning when behavioral changes in patients with DoC exceed measurement error. Notably, the minimal detectable change can support the detection of patients who make a "true" change within or across states of consciousness. Our findings highlight that the continued use of ordinal scores may result in incorrect inferences about the degree and relevance of a change score.

Interventions Facilitating Recovery of Consciousness Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.

People who experience disorders of consciousness (DoC) following a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have complex rehabilitation needs addressed by occupational therapy. To examine the effectiveness of interventions to improve arousal and awareness of people with DoC following a TBI. For this systematic review, we followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched six databases in collaboration with a research librarian. Twenty-seven studies were included and grouped thematically. Multimodal sensory stimulation, familiar voices telling structured stories, and transcranial direct current stimulation had a moderate level of evidence. Multimodal sensory stimulation had the strongest evidence in support of its use in clinical practice. Occupational therapy practitioners should administer multimodal stimuli frequently as studies reported administering these interventions at least twice daily. Occupational therapy practitioners should incorporate personally relevant, meaningful, salient stimuli into interventions when treating patients with DoC.

Comparing indices of responsiveness for the Coma Near-Coma Scale with and without pain items: An Exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to establish the indices of responsiveness for the Coma/Near-Coma (CNC) scale without (8 items) and with (10 items) pain test stimuli. A secondary purpose was to examine whether the CNC 8 items and 10 items differ when detecting change in neurobehavioral function. METHODS: We analyzed CNC data from three studies of participants with disorders of consciousness: one observational study and two intervention studies. We generated Rasch person measures using the CNC 8 items and CNC 10 items for each participant at two time points 14 ± 2 days apart using Rasch Measurement Theory. We calculated the distribution-based minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and minimal detectable change using 95% confidence intervals (MDC95 ). RESULTS: We used the Rasch transformed equal-interval scale person measures in logits. For the CNC 8 items: Distribution-based MCID 0.33 SD = 0.41 logits and MDC95  = 1.25 logits. For the CNC 10 items: Distribution-based MCID 0.33 SD = 0.37 logits and MDC95  = 1.03 logits. Twelve and 13 participants made a change beyond measurement error (MDC95 ) using the CNC 8-item and 10-item scales, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary evidence supports the clinical and research utility of the CNC 8-item scale for measuring the responsiveness of neurobehavioral function, and that it demonstrates comparable responsiveness to the CNC 10-item scale without administering the two pain items. The distribution-based MCID can be used to evaluate group-level changes while the MDC95 can support clinical, data-driven decisions about an individual patient.

Feasibility of Acquiring Neuroimaging Data from Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries before and after a Yoga Intervention.

BACKGROUND: To date, no one has prospectively evaluated yoga intervention-induced changes in brain structure or function in adults with acquired brain injuries (ABI). Thus, this study was conducted to test the feasibility of acquiring neuroimaging data from adults with ABI before and after a yoga intervention. METHODS: This was a single-arm intervention feasibility study that included 12 adults with chronic (i.e., greater than 6 months post-injury) ABI and self-reported limitations in balance. Neuroimaging data were acquired before and after yoga. The yoga intervention was completed once per week for eight weeks. Feasibility objectives and benchmarks were established a priori. RESULTS: Most feasibility objectives and benchmarks were achieved. The goal of recruiting 12 participants was successfully achieved, and 75% of participants were retained throughout the study (goal of 80%). All imaging feasibility benchmarks were met; rs-fMRI and fNIRS data were acquired safely, data were of acceptable quality, and data pre-processing procedures were successful. Additionally, improvements were detected in balance after yoga, as group-level balance was significantly better post-yoga compared to pre-yoga, p = 0.043. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate it is feasible to acquire neuroimaging data from adults with ABI before and after a yoga intervention. Thus, future prospective studies are warranted.