Prediction, Measurement, and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice in the Rehabilitation Setting

Abstract

Access to timely rehabilitation is important in improving functional outcomes and burden of disease. While there is a significant body of published research which supports the use of rehabilitation across many clinical populations including stroke, orthopaedic and geriatric populations, there are still many key questions faced by rehabilitation clinicians in the inpatient setting that are yet to be fully addressed. Predicting the likely outcomes of people undergoing rehabilitation is challenging for clinicians in the inpatient setting. There is a variation and a lack of consensus on how rehabilitation dose and outcomes should be measured. The best approach to implementation of evidence-based interventions into rehabilitation practice is also unclear. The broad aims of this thesis were to address these gaps and provide further knowledge in the prediction, measurement and implementation of evidence-based interventions in rehabilitation practice.