Individualized goals expressed by patients undergoing stroke rehabilitation: an observational study

Objectives: To explore the rehabilitation goals mea-sured with the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) in patients undergoing acute and subacute stroke rehabilitation. In addition, to assess whether PSFS goals corresponded to impairments and acti-vity limitations, as identified by standardized mea-sures. Design: Observational study. Participants: A total of 71 participants undergoing inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Methods: The PSFS goals were linked to second -level categories in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), using established linking rules. Frequencies of the linked ICF categories were calculated. Frequencies of par-ticipants with limitations in walking, activities of daily living (ADL), vision, language, and cognition, were calculated, along with goals in corresponding areas of functioning. Results: The participants' goals were linked to 50 second-level ICF categories, comprising areas such as walking and moving, ADL, language, vision, and cognition. The most frequent ICF categories were "Moving around in different locations" (n = 24), "Walking" (n = 23), "Toileting" (n = 16), "Hand and arm use (n = 12) and "Fine hand use (n = 12)". Of participants with limitations in walking, cognition, and vision, 85%, 10%, and 16%, respectively, had goals in these areas. Conclusion: Participants' goals included walking, ADL, language, vision, and cognition. Few with impairments in cognition or vision had goals in these corresponding areas on the PSFS.