Nurse-Led Motor Function Rehabilitation Program for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Pilot Study

Background Rehabilitation care for patients with stroke in the acute stage must be strengthened. However, the evidence on how to strengthen this care is insufficient. Purpose This article was designed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a nurse-led motor function rehabilitation program on patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods From January to October 2018, patients with initial acute ischemic stroke were assigned to one of two groups using a pilot randomized controlled trial design, with one group receiving a nurse-led motor function intervention program developed based on Orem's theory (7 consecutive days, twice daily for 30 minutes, experimental group) and the other receiving usual care (control group). The effectiveness measures included changes in the Motor Assessment Scale, the modified Barthel Index, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. The feasibility measures included patient retention rate, incidence of adverse events, and acceptance of nurses and patients. Results We assigned 104 patients (male: 55.7%; age: 62.8 13.2 years) to receive either a nurse-led motor function rehabilitation program or usual care. Eighty-eight patients were evaluated after 7 days (87% retention rate), including 43 (83% retention rate) in the experimental group. Patients accepted the intervention well, and no severe adverse events were reported. Nurses had good fidelity and showed high acceptance. The experimental group showed significantly higher postintervention Motor Assessment Scale and modified Barthel Index scores than the control group (p < .001), whereas postintervention National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions/Implications for Practice The nurse-led rehabilitation program used in this study was shown to be feasible and effective in improving motor function in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Further study is recommended to determine related clinical recommendations.

Automated summary

The feasibility and effectiveness of a nurse-led motor function rehabilitation program for patients with acute ischemic stroke were evaluated. The experimental group showed significantly higher postintervention Motor Assessment Scale and modified Barthel Index scores than the control group. The nurse-led rehabilitation program was feasible and effective in improving motor function for patients with acute ischemic stroke.