title: Perceived value of stroke outcome measures across the post-acute care continuum: a qualitative case study.
abstract: Connecting the continuum of post-acute care stroke services may be important for easing patients' transition between settings and facilitating recovery and community reintegration. The use of outcome measures is suggested as one means of connecting the continuum. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to describe administrators' and physiotherapists' perceived value of an outcomes program across the post-acute care stroke continuum at a rehabilitation hospital. Data were collected through individual interviews and focus groups with 18 participants. Three themes emerged on the value of the outcomes program: 1) enhanced communication; 2) supports clinical decision-making; and 3) value of objective data. These findings lend support for the use of standardized outcome measures by physiotherapists in stroke rehabilitation. Findings from this study may be useful for organizations and physiotherapists who wish to integrate outcome measures into practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. megan.danzl@uky.edu
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Danzl
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007629:Kentucky; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010465:Perception; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome