Key components of a successful transitional care program after acute stroke: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• * Health Services Research
• * Rehabilitation Medicine
• * Public Health

Background:

• * Stroke survivors face significant challenges during the transition from hospital to community settings, including impairments, secondary comorbidities, and coordination gaps.
• * Transitional care management (TCM) aims to support stroke survivors, but a clear understanding of program components is lacking.
• * Existing evidence highlights positive outcomes from various TCM interventions, yet a comprehensive map of program elements is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To identify and map the essential components of transitional care programs for adult stroke patients.
• * To clarify the structure and elements of effective transitional care for stroke survivors transitioning to community living.

Main Methods:

• * A scoping review following JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• * Inclusion of quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods studies, systematic reviews, and gray literature.
• * Searches of PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library for English articles published since 2000; data extraction by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• * The review synthesizes findings on key components across diverse transitional care programs.
• * Identifies common elements and variations in programs supporting stroke survivors' community reintegration.
• * Provides a structured overview of effective transitional care strategies.

Conclusions:

• * Mapping key components of transitional care programs is crucial for optimizing stroke survivor recovery.
• * Understanding these components can inform the development and implementation of more effective TCM interventions.
• * This review offers a foundational understanding to improve care coordination and outcomes for stroke survivors post-discharge.