| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
RCT
Subgroup of Orpington 1993 (stroke unit vs general medical ward) |
| Participants |
People who survived stroke for 2 weeks
Suitable for transfer to rehabilitation ward |
| Interventions |
Stroke rehabilitation ward (n = 53) vs conventional care in general medical (n = 48) ward
Organised care provided for months if required |
| Outcomes |
Death, Barthel Index, place of residence, length of initial hospital stay at end of follow‐up |
| Notes |
Stroke severity subgroup data inferred from distribution in whole group |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
"Randomised with the use of Geigy table of random numbers" |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
"Randomisation was computerized" |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Difficult to conceal |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Unblinded outcome assessment |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
2 intervention and 5 control participants lost to follow‐up |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
All pre‐specified outcomes reported |
