Outcome measurement in stroke rehabilitation research

The use of outcome measures in stroke rehabilitation research is examined in a sample of 50 representative articles. Research studies are found not adequately to reflect the aims of stroke rehabilitation expressed by leading practitioners in the field. In particular, evaluations of rehabilitation programmes tend to use physical and self-care measures to the exclusion of broader aims. Recent advances in health measurement are reviewed, and it is recommended that researchers in this area make greater use of measures of subjective evaluations of health status, family involvement in rehabilitation, patient satisfaction, and quality of life.