Home rehabilitation after stroke. Review of the literature
Britton, M.
Nordisk Medicin 112(9): 323-326
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-1420 PMID: 9424604 Document Number: 475034
To find an answer to the question whether domiciliary rehabilitation after stroke is better or cheaper than alternative forms of rehabilitation, a systematic literature review of controlled trials was performed. Three large and two smaller, more preliminary studies of all together a thousand patients were found and regarded methodologically acceptable. Efficacy as regards functional, emotional and qualitative outcome of patients was equivalent for various modes of care. So was the degree of stress, social function and quality of life for the main carers. Home treatment costed less than regular day care but more than routine care including a mixture of outpatient and day care, as considered required. Domiciliary rehabilitation seems to be a good and cost effective alternative for stroke patients who need and cannot manage frequent out-patients visits without ambulance or other exhausting and expensive transports.