Variations in follow-up services after inpatient stroke rehabilitation: a multicentre study.
BACKGROUND
Care after discharge from inpatient stroke rehabilitation units varies across Europe. The aim of this study was to compare service delivery after discharge.


METHODS
A total of 532 consecutive patients after stroke were recruited from 4 European rehabilitation centres in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK. At 2-month intervals, clinical assessments and structured interviews were carried out to document functional status and delivery of services after discharge. Significant factors for receiving follow-up services were analysed using a logistic generalized estimating equation model.


RESULTS
After controlling for case-mix, the results showed that Belgian patients were most likely to receive physical therapy but least likely to receive occupational therapy. German patients were least likely to receive nursing care. UK patients were less likely to receive medical care from their general practitioner compared with the other patient groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical characteristics did not explain the variations in service delivery after discharge from in-patient stroke rehabilitation. The decision-making processes involved in the provision of follow-up services need to be better documented. To improve our understanding of events post-discharge, the influence of non-clinical factors, such as healthcare regulations, should be explored further.
Putman
Koen
K
Department of Health Sciences and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. kputman@vub.ac.be
De Wit
Liesbet
L
Schupp
Wilfred
W
Baert
Ilse
I
Brinkmann
Nadine
N
Dejaeger
Eddy
E
De Weerdt
Willy
W
Feys
Hilde
H
Jenni
Walter
W
Kaske
Christiane
C
Lincoln
Nadina
N
Louckx
Fred
F
Schuback
Birgit
B
Smith
Bozena
B
Leys
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013557:Switzerland; D006113:United Kingdom