Assessment of acute and post-acute stroke rehabilitation practices among nonrehabilitation professionals at Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

SUMMARY Background: Stroke is a main cause of obtained disability in adults. In regards to the prevalence, there has been a decline in high income countries and greater than 100% increase in stroke incidence in Low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) during the last four decades. Rehabilitation services are the main mechanism by which purposeful functional recovery are promoted in patients with acute stroke. Primary treating physicians are often the first to face patients with acute stroke and they play a key function in assessing patient's needs, determining their readiness for rehabilitation, and referring them to appropriate rehabilitation centers. Despite the role of physician engagement in stroke rehabilitation, there is limited studies on physician attitudes, knowledge, and practices in this area. Objective: To assess acute and post-acute stroke rehabilitation practices among nonrehabilitation professionals at SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Methods: cross-sectional study will be conducted and data from physicians working at internal medicine department of SPHMMC during the study period will be collected by well-organized questionnaire focusing their practice about acute and post-acute stroke rehabilitation. Data will be entered to Epi Info 7 for database construction and exported to SPSS version 26. Different statistical analyses will be used including frequencies of variables, descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation. Associations between dependent and independent variables will be assessed by using binary and multiple logistic regressions. Work plan & Budget: The research is planned to be finalized within 6 months starting from May 01 to October 30/2023 data will be collected, analysis will be done on November , 2023 and the final result will be submitted on January 1/2024. The research will cost a total of 29,411 Ethiopian birr.