Article

OBJECTIVE: To characterize existing rehabilitation interventions for patients
with disorders of consciousness in long-term care and to evaluate the quality of
evidence of these interventions. DATA SOURCES: Databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL,
the Cochrane Library, CareLit and SoLit from January 2003 until July 2013. STUDY SELECTION : Studies were selected that focused on rehabilitation interventions for
patients in a coma, vegetative state or minimally conscious state who were living
in a long-term care setting. Interventions related to rehabilitation nursing,
physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy were described. A
total of 53 publications was included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently
extracted the data and assessed the quality of reporting using the National
Service Framework (NSF) for Long Term Neurological Conditions (LTNC). DATA
SYNTHESIS: Out of all extracted rehabilitation interventions 12 categories were
generated and described. Out of 53 publications 28 (52.8%) contained expert-based
evidence and 25 (47.2%) presented research-based evidence.
CONCLUSION: There are
a multitude of different rehabilitation interventions for individuals with
disorders of consciousness, which are established in clinical practice and
supported by expert opinion. However, evidence regarding these interventions is
weak and recommendations are strictly limited.
The findings of this review may
represent a basis for further research.

Langue : ANGLAIS