Integrated care pathways and quality of life on a stroke rehabilitation unit.
OBJECTIVE
Integrated care pathways (ICP) may not reduce disability, institutionalization, or duration of hospitalization compared with conventional multidisciplinary team (MDT) care in organized stroke rehabilitation. Their potential to improve patient heath status or satisfaction with care is not known.


METHODS
A comparison of quality of life, caregiver strain, and patient/caregiver satisfaction at 6 months after stroke was undertaken in 152 stroke patients randomized to receive ICP or MDT care. Differences in processes of care were recorded with the use of a predefined schedule. Multivariate analyses were undertaken to identify the effect of age, sex, stroke severity, functional status, mood, and use of care pathway on quality of life score.


RESULTS
The 2 groups were comparable for baseline characteristics of age, sex, stroke severity, and initial disability. MDT care was characterized by greater emphasis on return of higher function and caregiver needs compared with ICP. EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) scores were higher in the MDT group (median, 72 versus 63; P<0.005), who also had higher scores for EuroQol dimension of social functioning (P=0.014). Higher EQ-VAS scores were independently related to MDT care (P=0.04), Rankin score (P=0.01), and psychological function (P<0.0001) but not to age, sex, or stroke severity. There were no significant differences in patient or caregiver satisfaction between the 2 settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Better quality of life in patients receiving conventional MDT care may be attributable to improved social functioning and greater attention to higher function and caregiver needs during rehabilitation.
Sulch
David
D
Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College, and Department of Adult Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Melbourn
Anne
A
Perez
Inigo
I
Kalra
Lalit
L
D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019090:Case Management; D019091:Critical Pathways; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom