Gender and being born overseas influences the amount of acute stroke therapy

Abstract

Objective: To identify patient factors that influence the amount, frequency and intensity of physical and occupational therapy received by patients each weekday within 14 days of stroke. Design: Exploration of data from studies conducted to monitor activity and therapy. Participants: Stroke patients receiving active treatment (not for palliative care). Physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Results: Therapy data for 274 patients from 7 hospitals were included. Patients received a median of 40.0 min of therapy (physiotherapy plus occupational therapy) per weekday. Multivariable regression found that women had 22% less total therapy per weekday (factor change 0.78, 95% confidence interv..