Frequency and Reasons for Missed Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Therapy Sessions

Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability among adults, with inpatient rehabilitation playing a crucial role in maximizing recovery. Missed therapy sessions during rehabilitation may hinder functional gains, yet limited research explores their impact.

This exploratory study examines the prevalence, reasons, and potential implications of missed therapy sessions among inpatient stroke rehabilitation patients.

Patients were recruited from a stroke rehabilitation unit affiliated with a major academic hospital. Participants had a stroke diagnosis with hemiparesis or hemiplegia. Data on demographics, functional scores, and missed therapy sessions were collected from electronic medical records. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to analyze missed sessions.

Patients missed 184 therapy sessions (5% of total scheduled sessions) during 881 rehabilitation days. Physical therapy was the most missed (36.4%) sessions, followed by occupational therapy (34.2%) and speech language pathology (29.4%). Common reasons for missed sessions were patient refusal, fatigue, and bowel/bladder care. No significant correlations were found between missed sessions and functional outcomes.

Missed therapy sessions are common in stroke rehabilitation, with clinical and administrative implications. Addressing barriers through patient-centered interventions and systemic changes may reduce missed sessions, enhance engagement, and improve rehabilitation efficiency. Future studies should explore the financial and outcome impacts of missed therapy.