Physicians' preferences and expectations in stroke rehabilitation--results of a case-based questionnaire survey.

PURPOSE: Analysis of medical decisions in the differential allocation of stroke rehabilitation programmes.
METHOD: Medical specialists routinely involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients from acute hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and the Medical Services of the Workers' Pension Funds of Sachsen-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were included in a systematic survey, in which they had to give their opinions on the individually optimal rehabilitation setting and therapies and probable outcome on the basis of case vignettes. These specialists are crucial for decision-making in rehabilitation resource allocation.
RESULTS: Both allocation and prognosis did not depend only on patient but also on physician characteristics. Neurologists tended to prefer outpatient rehabilitation and expected a greater effect of rehabilitation upon ADL-function than specialists from other professions. Preferred rehabilitation setting did not influence the physicians' subjective prognosis. For patients who qualified both for in- and outpatient rehabilitation, the two settings, therapeutic potentials were considered to be equivalent.
CONCLUSIONS: Differences in setting and treatment preferences between experts concerning optimal treatment cannot be resolved on the basis of available evidence. Further data are required that allow to decide which type of rehabilitation is best suited for a given patient.