Cardiff 1995

Methods	Randomised controlled trial. Opaque sealed envelopes. Central randomisation. Blinded outcome assessment (postal questionnaire).
Participants	UK 110 patients: 55 intervention, 55 control. Mean age: 75.5 yrs. 37% male. Median Barthel Index score at baseline: intervention group 15 (IQR 2 to 20); control group 14 (IQR 0 to 20). Clinical definition of stroke. Patients recruited prior to discharge from inpatient facility. Inclusion criteria: discharged alive from one of two stroke units regardless of discharge destination.
Interventions	Rehabilitation at home by occupational therapists versus usual care. Input at 2, 8, 16 and 24 weeks. Intervention based on the model of human occupation. Interventions included: teaching new skills; facilitating more independence in activities of daily living; facilitating return of function; enabling patients to use equipment supplied by other agencies; information provision to patient and carer; referring to or liaison with other agencies. Service provided by a qualified occupational therapist.
Outcomes	Outcomes were recorded at 12 months. Death. Barthel Index. Nottingham Extended ADL Index. Geriatric Depression Scale (short form). Pearlman's six‐point Quality of Life Scale. Carer: Pearlman's six‐point Qualify of Life Scale.
Notes	Follow‐up period used in analysis: 12 months.
Risk of bias
Item	Authors' judgement	Description
Allocation concealment?	Yes	A ‐ Adequate