Patient- Specific Functional Scale among people with acute Stroke in Norway

Purpose: Acute stroke can lead to reduced independence and activity restrictions in daily life. The aims of this study were: 1) to identify which self-reported activities stroke patients had difficulty to perform using the Patient- Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). 2) To evaluate change in PSFS and 3) to investigate different factors associated with change from baseline to 6 months. Design/method: A prospective cohort design where PSFS was used as an outcome measure at baseline, after 4 weeks and 6 months. All activities were classified with ICF. Cognitive function was assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Material: Sixty-one participants, 67 % men, mean age 73 years, were included while admitted to an acute stroke unit. Results: The participants reported 150 activities in PSFS that were classified under the domain mobility (d4), home life (d6) and society and social life areas (d9). There was a statistically significant change on PSFS score from baseline to 6 months. MoCA at baseline was associated with change in PSFS. Conclusion: The participants managed to fill out PFSF and score their difficulty. There was a wide range of activity problems among the participants which suggest that it is important to include patient specific outcome measures for patients with stroke. The participants showed a meaningful change in self-reported activities, and cognitive function was strongest associated with the change in PSFS.