OBJECTIVE: to evaluate whether integrated care pathways improve the processes of care in stroke rehabilitation. DESIGN: comparison of processes of care data collected in a randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: acute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation randomized to receiveintegrated care pathways management (n=76) or conventional multidisciplinary care (n=76). MEASUREMENTS: proportion of patients meeting recommended standards for processes of care using a validated stroke audit tool. RESULTS: integrated care pathways methodology was associated with higher frequency of stroke specific assessments, notably testing for inattention (84% versus 60%; P=0.015) and nutritional assessment (74% versus 22%, P<0.001). Documentation of provision of certain information to patients/carers (89% versus 70%; P=0.024) and early discharge notification to general practitioners (80% versus 45%; P<0.001) were also more common in this group. There were no significant differences in the processes of interdisciplinary co-ordination and patient management between the integrated care pathways group and the control group. CONCLUSION: integrated care pathways may improve assessment and communication, even in specialist stroke settings.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate whether integrated care pathways improve the processes of care in stroke rehabilitation. DESIGN: comparison of processes of care data collected in a randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: acute strokepatients undergoing rehabilitation randomized to receive integrated care pathways management (n=76) or conventional multidisciplinary care (n=76). MEASUREMENTS: proportion of patients meeting recommended standards for processes of care using a validated stroke audit tool. RESULTS: integrated care pathways methodology was associated with higher frequency of stroke specific assessments, notably testing for inattention (84% versus 60%; P=0.015) and nutritional assessment (74% versus 22%, P<0.001). Documentation of provision of certain information to patients/carers (89% versus 70%; P=0.024) and early discharge notification to general practitioners (80% versus 45%; P<0.001) were also more common in this group. There were no significant differences in the processes of interdisciplinary co-ordination and patient management between the integrated care pathways group and the control group. CONCLUSION: integrated care pathways may improve assessment and communication, even in specialist stroke settings.
Authors: Aznida F Abdul Aziz; Nor Azlin Mohd Nordin; Noor Abd Aziz; Suhazeli Abdullah; Saperi Sulong; Syed M Aljunid Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2014-03-02 Impact factor: 2.497