Research Report Abstracts - Gesundheit

eS354
Ethics approval: Approved by The Ethical Committee
of the physiotherapy research center, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Research Report Platform Presentation
Number: RR-PL-1054 Tuesday 21 June 17:15
RAI: Elicium 1
MEASURING WALKING LIMITATIONS AFTER
STROKE: USING THE 12-ITEM WALKING SCALE
Forsberg A. 1 , Nilsagård Y. 2
1Family Medicine Research Centre, Örebro County Council,
Örebro, Sweden, 2Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro
University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
Purpose: To describe walking limitations after stroke using
the 12-item Walking Scale (WS-12) and to investigate concurrent
validity between the WS-12 and measures of physical
mobility and health status.
Relevance: Physiotherapy is an important part of rehabilitation
after stroke. Limitations in walking and balance are
common after stroke. Disability is often measured using
objectively timed measures. However, using self-rated measures
provides an opportunity to gain information from the
affected individual. Complementary information from selfrating
scales such as the WS-12 may guide the physiotherapist
in treatment and goal setting.
Participants: Thirty-seven persons were included and tested
0–14 days after stroke at the Department of Neurology at the
Örebro University Hospital (Sample A). Mean age was 79
years. Of these, 31 were retested 3 months later thus representing
the sub acute phase. Sixty-seven persons in the
chronic phase (>1 year) after stroke were recruited from Primary
Health Care in Örebro county council (Sample B), mean
age 68 years. A total of 104 persons with stroke participated.
Inclusion criteria were perceived limited walking but with
retained ability to walk 10 meters with assistance.
Methods: A Swedish version of the WS-12 was used. The
WS-12 consists of 12 items where the persons rate how symptoms
after stroke limit walking-related activities. Items are
graded 1–5. A transformed sum score between 0 and 100
is calculated and a higher score indicates greater impact
on walking. Concurrent validity was investigated using the
Timed Up and Go, the 10-meter timed walk, 6 minutes walking
test and the SF-36.
Analysis: Median and inter-quartiles ranges were used to
present data. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s
alpha coefficient. Spearman’s correlation coefficient
was used to estimate correlations between the WS-12 and
other measures. Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to calculate
differences between test occasions for sample A.
Results: For sample A, a significant improvement was seen,
as scores on the WS-12 in the acute phase were median 65
(IQR 44–78) and in the sub acute phase median 35 (IQR
19–54) (p < 0.001). For sample B the median sum score was
60 (IQR 40–73). The internal consistency was high at all test
occasions, sample A acute phase α = 0.95 and sub acute phase
α = 0.93, sample B α = 0.92. There were significantly moderate
to high correlations between scores on the WS-12 and
the Timed Up and Go, 10-meter timed walk, 6-minutes walk
and SF-36 physical subscale for both test occasions in sample
A and sample B. Correlations were non-significantly low
between the SF-36 mental subscale and the other measures
in both samples.
Conclusions: In the acute phase, the participants experienced
high limitation in walking. These scores were similar to the
scores of the younger persons in sample B. The WS-12 has
good psychometric properties and complements other physical
measures.
Implications: The WS-12 may be used as a valid outcome
measure to complement timed measures. It provides additional
information on how the individual experiences limited
walking capacity.
Keywords: Stroke; Outcome measure; Disability
Funding acknowledgements: Research Committee at Örebro
County Council.
Ethics approval: Regional ethical review board in Uppsala,
Sweden in 2009.
Research Report Poster Display
Number: RR-PO-206-15-Thu Thursday 23 June 13:00
RAI: Exhibit Halls2&3
FUNCTIONAL HEALTH STATUS 10 YEARS AFTER
FALLING ILL WITH GUILLAIN–BARRé
SYNDROME: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY
Forsberg A. 1,2 , Widén Holmqvist L. 1
1Karolinska Institutet, Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm,
Sweden, 2Family Medicine Research Centre, Örebro County
Council, Örebro, Sweden
Purpose: The purpose was to describe functional status and
health-related quality of life (HRQL) 10 years after onset of
Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) in a sample of persons that
had been followed prospectively from onset of GBS. The
purpose was also to compare functional status and HRQL 10
years after GBS onset with data at 2 years after onset.
Relevance: No study has been found that has followed GBS
patients for more than 2 years. Long-term prospective studies
are needed for understanding of the prognosis and planning
for long-term rehabilitation services. Most studies have
focused on impairment of body function but the influence of
GBS may also be evaluated at levels of activity and participation.
Participants: 42 persons were included in the prospective
study in 1998–99. They were followed for 2 years with five
test occasions. In this 10-year follow-up study 29 persons
were included. Seven persons had died, four declined partic-