Table 1 Details of Randomised Controlled Studies of multidisciplinary care in the community care of stroke
Author, year, location, | Study participants | Participants (intervention/control) | Test and control groups similar at baseline? | Patients lost to follow-up (intervention/con trol) | Patients without complete data (intervention/control) | Intervention | Study designs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Askim et al 2004 [(20) Norway | Stroke patients being discharged to rural areas. | 31/31 | Yes | Home based care coordination from hospital specialist unit for four weeks post- discharge for rural areas. Primary health care providers visited home, phone liaison with stroke unit to develop care plan. | RCT | ||
Age, Diagnosis, Predisposing medical history | Died at 52 weeks 8/5 | Withdrew | |||||
Functional status | <6 wks 0/1 | ||||||
<26 wks 0/2 | |||||||
<52 wks 0/2 | |||||||
No | |||||||
nil | |||||||
Faberberg et al 2000 [(19) Sweden. | Acute Stoke patients | 166/83 | Yes | Stroke unit care including comprehensive discharge planning (includes "contact with primary care services" unspecified) vs general ward care | RCT | ||
Gender | |||||||
Age | Died | ||||||
Medical history except angina | 3 wks 14/8 | ||||||
3 mths 7/5 | 3 wks 12/1 | ||||||
Living alone | 12 mths 23/6 | 3 mths 4/4 | |||||
Conscious state on admission | Alive at 12 mths 70/71% | 12 mths 0/4 | |||||
Nature of stroke | |||||||
Final diagnosis | |||||||
No | |||||||
Angina 27/15% (P = 0.036) | |||||||
Trondheim study(21, 29, 30) Norway | Acute Stroke patients | 160/160 | Yes | Early supported discharge from specialist stroke unit. Includes comprehensive coordination with primary care services | RCT | ||
Age | Died | ||||||
Gender | Initial admission 4/5 | ||||||
Living alone | 6 wks 4/7 | ||||||
Medical history | 26 wks 13/15 | ||||||
Functional state | 52 wks 0/0 | ||||||
No | |||||||
Nil |