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Evaluation of a multiprofessional community stroke team: a randomized controlled trial
N B Lincoln1, M F Walker, A Dixon
1School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Division of Stroke Medicine, Nottingham Community NHS Trust, UK. Nadina.Lincoln@nottingham.ac.uk
Clinical Rehabilitation
|February 7, 2004
Summary
Community stroke teams improve patient satisfaction with emotional support and reduce carer strain. While functional outcomes were similar to routine care, specialist multidisciplinary rehabilitation in the community benefits both patients and their informal caregivers.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Effectiveness of community stroke teams for rehabilitation remains unclear.
- Specialist multiprofessional teams may offer improved outcomes in community settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a specialist multiprofessional community stroke team.
- Assess impact on patient independence, mood, quality of life, and satisfaction.
- Evaluate effects on carer strain and satisfaction with support and knowledge.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial design.
- Inclusion of stroke patients and their informal carers.
- Utilized Barthel Index, EADL, GHQ-12, Carer Strain Index, and Euroquol for outcome measurement.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in patient independence, mood, quality of life, or stroke knowledge.
- Patients reported higher satisfaction with emotional support from the community team.
- Carers experienced significantly less strain and reported higher satisfaction with knowledge and overall services.
Conclusions:
- Community-based specialist stroke teams enhance patient satisfaction with emotional support.
- These teams effectively reduce carer strain and improve carer satisfaction.
- Findings support the implementation of community-based specialist multiprofessional stroke rehabilitation.