Intensification of the transition between inpatient neurological rehabilitation and home care of stroke patients. Controlled clinical trial with follow-up assessment six months after discharge

Abstract

An intensified transition concept between neurological inpatient rehabilitation and home care was investigated for effects on the functional status of stroke patients and the physical and emotional health of their carers. Controlled clinical trial allocating patients to intervention group (intensified transition on ward II) or control group (standard transition on ward I); patients were allocated to whichever ward had a vacancy. Follow-up assessment was carried out six months after discharge. Seventy-one patients and their family carers were included, of which nine cases dropped out. Therefore 62 stroke patients with persisting disability and their family carers were available for assessment at follow-up--33 patients in the intervention group, 29 patients in the control group. The intensified transition concept consisted of therapeutic weekend care, bedside teaching and structured information for relatives during the second phase of the rehabilitation. Patients were assessed with the Barthel Index, Functional Independence Measure, Ashworth Spastic Scale, Frenchay Arm Test, and Timed Up and Go Test. The carers completed SF-36, and were assessed using the Giessen Symptom List, Depression Scale and Burden Scale for Family Caregivers. The intensified transition did not lead to significant change in the functional status of the patients or in the physical and emotional health of the family carers. Within the first four weeks after discharge, the patients in the intervention group had fewer new illnesses. In the observation period the use of outpatient care services was more frequent in the intervention group than in the control group. Even though there are few differences of moderate intensity between the two groups the intensified transition programme does not affect either the functional status of the stroke patients or the health of the carers.