Objective: To investigate effect of home-based rehabilitation on performance in a functional independence measure (FIM) in patients with heroin-associated encephalopathy (HE).
Methods: A total of 56 patients with HE were divided into a family rehabilitation management group (treatment group, n=30) and a control group (n=26). The patients in the home-based rehabilitation management group were put on a rehabilitation program and then followed-up; those in the control group were only followed-up. Both groups were evaluated with FIM at discharge and 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge.
Results: FIM in the treatment group was remarkably better than that in the control group at 3, 6, 12 months after discharge (79.5±16.3 vs 62.3± 14.6, 88.2±20.0 vs 65.5±13.4, 99.6±21.2 vs 68.7±15.8; all P< 0.05). In the rehabilitation group, FIM of the patients receiving 3, 6, and 12 months of rehabilitation therapy was significantly higher than that at the time of discharge (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Home-based rehabilitation management has significant effect on the FIM in patients with HE.