Article

Progress in early cognitive recovery after acquired brain injury is
uneven and unpredictable,
and thus the evaluation of rehabilitation is complex.
The use of time-series measurements is susceptible to statistical change due to
process variation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using a time-series
method, statistical process control, in early cognitive rehabilitation. METHOD:
Participants were 27 patients with acquired brain injury undergoing
interdisciplinary rehabilitation of attention within 4 months post-injury. The
outcome measure, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, was analysed using
statistical process control. RESULTS: Statistical process control identifies if
and when change occurs in the process according to 3 patterns: rapid, steady or
stationary performers. The statistical process control method was adjusted, in
terms of constructing the baseline and the total number of measurement points, in
order to measure a process in change. CONCLUSION: Statistical process control
methodology is feasible for use in early cognitive rehabilitation, since it
provides information about change in a process, thus enabling adjustment of the
individual treatment response. Together with the results indicating discernible
subgroups that respond differently to rehabilitation, statistical process control
could be a valid tool in clinical decision-making. This study is a starting-point
in understanding the rehabilitation process using a real-time-measurements
approach.

Langue : ANGLAIS