Probabilistic independence can dramatically simplify the task of eliciting, representing, and computing with probabilities in large domains. A key technique in achieving these benefits is the idea of graphical modeling. We survey existing notions of independence for utility functions in a multi-attribute space, and suggest that these can be used to achieve similar advantages. Our new results co...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the functional independence of persons with spinal cord injury according to the Functional Independence Measure motor items. DESIGN The study design was cross-sectional. SUBJECTS All adult citizens of Helsinki with traumatic spinal cord injury were identified. The final study group consisted of 121/152 subjects (80%). METHODS Functional Independence Measure assessmen...

Trauma is often related to functional impairment, representing an important social, economic and health issue. This study intended to evaluate the functional independence of aged individuals with fractures, at admission, discharge and after one month from their regressing home. Furthermore, this study also intended to verify the relationship between functional independence and demographic and h...

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between limited shoulder range of motion in persons with spinal cord injury at discharge and the performance of activities, wheeling performance, transfers and participation one year later. DESIGN Multicentre prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS A total of 146 newly injured subjects with spinal cord injury. METHODS Shoulder range of motion was measured at ...

The majority of measurement scales used to evaluate outcome in rehabilitation are ordinal in nature and consequently statistically valid assessments of change are difficult to make. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) can be weighted to possess interval properties, potentially allowing more accurate analysis of change. In this study the FIM was compared to the Barthel Index (BI) to determ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate an early home-supported discharge service for stroke patients. DESIGN We carried out a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial (allocation ratio of 1:1) with patients assigned to either an early home-supported discharge service or usual care. SETTING The study was undertaken in Aveiro, Portugal, between April 2009 and April 2013. SUBJECTS We inclu...