Time use of stroke patients in an intensive rehabilitation unit: a comparison between a Belgian and a Swiss setting.
Functional improvement after stroke has been related to the intensity of treatment. The present study was set up to observe how stroke patients spend their time in a rehabilitation unit. Behavioural mapping was performed throughout a full working day in a Belgian and Swiss stroke unit. Patients were most frequently involved in therapeutic activities, 28% of the day in Belgium and 45% in Switzerland. Physiotherapy accounted for the majority of the therapy time. The Belgian patients spent 27% of the day in their own room and Swiss patients 49% of the day. The most striking finding was that the Swiss patients spent nearly 1.5 hours per day more in therapy. Differences between the two settings could only partially be explained by more favourable patient-staff ratios in the Swiss setting. Autonomous practice, group therapy sessions and family involvement have to also be considered.