Multidisciplinary team working
Khan F, Turner-Stokes L, Ng L, et al. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for adults with multiple sclerosis. Postgrad Med J 2008; 84:385.
Assesses the effectiveness of organised MDR in adults with MS. MDR was defined as an inpatient, outpatient, home or community based programme, delivered by two or more disciplines in conjunction with physician consultation, and targeted towards improvements at the level of activity and/or participation
Pozzilli C, Brunetti M, Amicosante AM, Gasperini C, Ristori G, Palmisano L, Battaglia M. Home based management in multiple sclerosis: results of a randomised controlled trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002;73(3):250-5.
Compared effectiveness and costs of multidisciplinary care at home with hospital care, with one year’s follow up. 201 people with MS were randomised to home or hospital care. At follow-up, costs to the Italian NHS were analysed. There were no significant differences in functional ability between home or hospital based groups. There were some benefits to home based care and it was slightly cheaper than hospital care, mainly as a result of fewer hospital admissions.
Makepeace R W, Barnes M P, Semlyen J K, Stevenson J. The establishment of a community multiple sclerosis team. Int J Rehabil Res 2001; 24(2):137-41
Describes the establishment of an interdisciplinary community MS team in Newcastle, issues involved, type of patients referred, and established a cost saving of around £6000 over a six-month period to the local health service, implying a more substantial cost saving for the whole MS population.
Sitzia J, Haddrell V, Rice-Oxley M. Evaluation of a nurse-led multidisciplinary neurological rehabilitation programme using the Nottingham Health Profile. Clinical Rehabilitation 1998; 12(5): 389-94.
33 people with MS received inpatient, adapted, multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Scores on a range of assessments showed a significant improvement on physical mobility and other symptoms, particularly in relation to quality of life.
Roush S E. Examining the relationship between physical and occupational therapists and their patients with multiple sclerosis. Int J Rehabil Health 1996 Apr; 2(2):125-37.
A study of 78 therapists and their patients looked at how far therapists’ attitudes towards people with disabilities affected their patients’ satisfaction. Therapists with a positive attitude were more likely to have satisfied patients.