Table 1 Integrated care

Indredavik 2000

Patients with acute stroke

I: Chain of care provided by a mobile stroke team from the acute setting into the community

ADL function and independence, living situation, death, LOS

Patients receiving integrated care had improved functional outcome at 6 months (65% of the intervention group vs 52% of the control group were independent) and 1 year (56% of the intervention group vs 45% of the control group were independent). Length of stay and levels of mortality on the acute stroke unit were similar.

Design: RCT

Size: N = 320

Setting: Hospital to home

Norway

C: Acute care and community care provided by different intervention teams

PEDro: 6/10

Kalra 2000

Patients with acute stroke

I: Comprehensive stroke ward (acute and rehabilitation care provided)

Mortality, ADL function, living situation, length of stay and resource use

There was a statistically significant reduction in mortality in the comprehensive care group in comparison to the group receiving general ward care (OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.76 at 6 months).

Design: RCT

Size: N = 457

Setting: Hospital

I: Domiciliary multidisciplinary stroke team

United Kingdom

PEDro: 8/10

C: General ward with care from hospital based mobile stroke team

Widen Holmqvist 1998

Patients with acute stroke

I: Care provided by a hospital outreach team from the acute setting into the community

Resource use, caregivers QOL and time spent caring, patient satisfaction, Sickness Impact Profile, ADL function and independence

There were no statistically significant differences in outcome between groups at 3 or 12 months. Patients in the control group spent significantly more days in inpatient services (mean of 29 days vs mean of 14 days)

Design: RCT

Size: N = 81

Setting: Hospital to home

C: Acute care, rehabilitation and/or community care provided by different teams

Sweden

PEDro: 7/10