Research Report Abstracts - Gesundheit

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between the activities section of the SGRQ and steps taken
(rho = −0.428, p < 0.0.05) and time spent physically active
(rho = −0.463, p < 0.05) indicating that subjects with a lower
quality of life walked less.
Conclusions: There is good correlation between physical
activity measures and standard outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation.
Implications: Further study is needed to determine which
measures of physical activity are useful in this patient population.
Keywords: Physical activity; Activity monitors; COPD
Funding acknowledgements: None.
Ethics approval: Ethical approval was obtained from
Beaumont Hospital Ethics Board.
Research Report Platform Presentation
Number: RR-PL-1062 Wednesday 22 June 08:45
RAI: Elicium 2
CONSTRAINT INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY
FOR THE UPPER LIMB POST STROKE: A POSTAL
SURVEY OF THERAPISTS IN IRELAND
Eigbogba B. 1 , Lennon S. 2
1St. Mary’s Hospital Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, Department
of Physiotherapy, Dublin, Ireland, 2University of Ulster,
Northern Ireland, Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute,
School of Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
Purpose: Upper limb hemiparesis after stroke is a key impairment
due to its significant impact on the patient’s functional
ability. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) aims
to overcome learned non use by practising activities with the
affected arm, and restraining the non stroke arm.
Relevance: CIMT is considered an effective intervention to
promote arm recovery, however its’ use in clinical practice
has been slow to emerge. This study aimed to investigate the
use of CIMT by therapists in the Republic of Ireland.
Participants: 443 Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists
in Ireland currently working in stroke care, or with 3
months previous experience treating stroke.
Methods: A postal survey was distributed to 443 therapists
accessed with permission from the databases of both the
Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Association
of Occupational Therapists in Ireland. The protocol was
approved by the University of Ulster Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences Research Institute filter committee as category
A and therefore did not require full ethical approval. Following
signed informed consent, therapists completed a 5 page
questionnaire composed of 31 questions.
Analysis: Carried out using Chi-square and Pearson
product–moment correlation on SPSS software.
Results: The overall response rate was 62.8% (n = 278;
PT = 47.79%; OT = 64.51%). Overall 61.4% cited having not
used CIMT with patients post stroke. The majority of ther-
apists (60.1%) identified that CIMT would be difficult to
administer in their clinical setting. Common reservations
cited by therapists included: training and mentorship (3.5%),
time constraints (2.9%) and fear of shoulder subluxation
(2.4%). Common barriers to the use of CIMT were: patient
compliance (34.3%); safety concerns (81.5%); and lack of
resources (79.4%). Chi-square did not identify any significant
association for profession in relation to the use of
CIMT (p = 0.106); there was however a significant association
for experience with use of CIMT (p = 0.000), there was
a large positive strength relationship between therapist’s use
of CIMT and their level of clinical experience, A strong positive
relationship was also found between therapist’s use of
CIMT and qualification (r = .703, r = .690).
Conclusions: Overall this survey yielded many positive
results and has paved the way for further research. The barriers
and therapists’ reservations identified in the survey need to
be addressed to enhance the availability of CIMT in Ireland.
Research suggests that CIMT draws on neuroplasticity mechanisms
which is crucial to recovery of movement in stroke
thus it is essential to make available this well researched evidence
based technique despite major organisation obstacles
and clinical concerns.
Implications: Research highlights difficulty of implementing
current research in practice, numerous reasons was
identified for the failure to implement evidence based (EBP)
in practice, although studies have supported that patient outcomes
are substantially improved when health care is based
on evidence from well designed studies versus tradition or
clinical expertise alone.
Keywords: Constraint induced movement therapy; Post
stroke paretic upper limb; Stroke
Funding acknowledgements: Self funded.
Ethics approval: University of Ulster Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences Research Institute filter committee.
Research Report Poster Display
Number: RR-PO-206-25-Thu Thursday 23 June 13:00
RAI: Exhibit Halls2&3
PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH
HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE: EFFECTS OF A
TREATMENT PROGRAM AND THE
INTERCORRELATION BETWEEN ASSESSMENT
TOOLS
Ekwall C.
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a physiotherapeutic
exercise programme for patients with Huntington’s disease
(HD) concerning motor function and disability, balance and
fall related self-efficacy, and to investigate the correlation
between the seven assessment tools.
Relevance: There is no consensus between physiotherapists
of today, on what outcome measures that should be used in
the clinic or in research. Hence, there is an obvious need for