ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine predictive factors for TRansferring Inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) cancer Patients Back to Acute Care (TRIPBAC). DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients with cancer admitted to an IRF from 2009 to 2010 because of a functional impairment that developed as a direct consequence of their cancer or its treatment. SETTING: IRF of a community-based, academic, tertiary care facility. METHODS: The characterization of patients with cancer in the IRF was primarily based on analysis of the IRF Patient Assessment Instrument and other internal IRF data logs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Frequency and reasons for TRIPBAC. RESULTS: The TRIPBAC rate in our IRF was 17.4%. The most common reasons for TRIPBAC were postneurosurgical complications (31%). Factors associated with TRIPBAC were a motor Functional Independence Measure score of 35 points or lower on admission (odds ratio 4.01, 95% confidence interval 1.79-8.98; P = .001) and the presence of a feeding tube or a modified diet (odds ratio 3.18, 95% confidence interval 1.44-7.04; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Motor Functional Independence Measure score on admission is the best predictor for TRIPBAC in patients with cancer admitted to our IRF, followed by the presence of a feeding tube or a modified diet.