Return to Work and Quality of Life after Stroke in Italy: A Study on the Efficacy of Technologically Assisted Neurorehabilitation

Sheyda Ghanbari Ghoshchi, Sara De Angelis, Giovanni Morone, Monica Panigazzi, Benedetta Persechino, Marco Tramontano, Edda Capodaglio, Pierluigi Zoccolotti, Stefano Paolucci and Marco Iosa
Additional contact information
Sheyda Ghanbari Ghoshchi: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
Sara De Angelis: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
Giovanni Morone: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
Monica Panigazzi: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCSS, Occupational Therapy and Ergonomics Unit, 27040 Montescano, Italy
Benedetta Persechino: Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Marco Tramontano: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
Edda Capodaglio: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCSS, Occupational Therapy and Ergonomics Unit, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Pierluigi Zoccolotti: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
Stefano Paolucci: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
Marco Iosa: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke, are historically considered diseases of old adults so only in a few studies has “return to work” (RTW) been considered as an index of rehabilitative outcome. At the moment, data on RTW in patients with stroke are highly variable: four different reviews reported the following ranges: 11–85%, 19–73%, 22–53%, and 40–45%. The absence of re-integration to work after a stroke is shown to be associated with an increase of cardiac disorders and depression, with a higher level of mortality, with social isolation and with insufficient adaptive skills. The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of technological treatment, performed with optic (SonicHand) and wearable (Riablo™) systems providing auditory and visual biofeedback, on RTW in patients with stroke. RTW was found to be associated with a higher independence in the activities of daily living (assessed by the Modified Barthel Index). No significant differences were found between technological versus conventional rehabilitation in terms of RTW, despite the former showing a higher odds ratio than the latter (OR = 9 vs. 6). Assistive devices were mainly used in patients who had not returned to work. Finally, quality of life was found higher in those patients who returned to work with the same conditions (work duties and time) as before stroke.

Keywords: stroke; wearable devices; return to work; rehabilitation; kinematics; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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