| Methods |
Uncontrolled before‐and‐after study. Retrospective data collection. |
| Participants |
50 patients with stroke ‐ CP group 25, 'before' group 25. Excluded patients with haemorrhagic stroke and those who died in hospital. 186 patients were considered but only 25/100 in CP group and 25/86 in 'before' group were included (50 being a convenient number). |
| Interventions |
TREATMENT GROUP: stroke program from Jan to June 1988; multidisciplinary in‐ and outpatient care and research component; stroke program consists of discharge planning; patient education, family care, post‐discharge care (e.g. telephone contacts and assessment for multidisciplinary intervention). CONTROL GROUP: undefined patient care (from Jan to June 1987) before stroke program implemented. |
| Outcomes |
Mean LOS (days): CP=17 vs Before=8. Patients with complications: CP=5/25 vs Before=16/25. Discharged home: CP=21/25 vs Before=13/25. Institutionalisation: CP=4/25 vs Before=12/25. Readmission: CP=0/25 vs Before=9/25. Therapy ordered: CP=18/25 vs Before=20/25. Time to therapy (days): CP=0.75 vs Before=1.5. Non‐compliance with follow‐up appointment: CP=6/25 vs Before=15/25. |
| Notes |
Acute stroke. Both groups similar except CP group had lower mean age (CP=77 vs Before=66) and more patients from African origin (CP=72% vs Before=60%). |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
D ‐ Not used |
