British Bobath Tutors Association

This retrospective audit reviews the use of a competency-based training tool, which was developed to teach staff on a stroke rehabilitation unit specific skilled transfers based on the Bobath Concept. The training tool aimed to minimise risk of injury to staff while maximising the patient’s opportunity to actively participate in transfers. Use of transfers was investigated over 1 year by auditing records for mode of transfer used for each week of the rehabilitation stay. Incident reports were also reviewed. The transfers taught on the training programme were used for a total of 46% of the duration of the hospital stay (average 47 days). Six incident reports relating to staff injury were identified, with no days of work lost. Three of the six incidents reported involved staff that had not been trained in the transfer. The authors identified essential elements of teaching transfers based on the principles of the Bobath Concept to include defining specific transfer processes and level of ability necessary for patient to participate as well as mandatory risk assessment procedures in place. Supervised training and competency testing were integral to the training package and emphasis was placed on discontinuing any transfer and using the hoist if the patient did not demonstrate the required level of participation at any time. The authors suggest this competency-based training tool should be further explored, and research should also investigate the ability of skilled transfers to enhance outcomes and/or the rate of recovery for stroke patients.