Summary

This study will determine the optimal type, intensity, frequency, and duration of rehabilitation treatment modalities for post-stroke patients.  The study is occurring between March 1, 2000, and December 31, 2003, at seven rehabilitation facilities, six in the US and one in New Zealand.  This Clinical Practice Improvement study is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.  It is being conducted in collaboration with the National Rehabilitation Hospital Research Center and with Boston University, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Rehabilitation and Research Training Center.

Primary Objectives

1. Improve function and other outcomes of post-stroke patients at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitative care.
   

2. Create research-based optimal treatment protocols for post-stroke rehabilitation care.

METHODS

Detailed patient, intervention, and outcome data are being collected on 1,400 post-stroke rehabilitation patients > 18 years old (200 per facility).  Study facilities use various types, intensity, frequency, and duration of rehabilitation treatment modalities for post-stroke patients.  We will  analyze the data to determine which rehabilitation treatment modalities are associated with better function and other outcomes of post-stroke patients.  Multivariate analyses will control for severity of illness, other patient factors, and facility characteristics in association with outcomes, including FIM scores, LOS, discharge disposition, return to acute care, and complications, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVTs), infections, bleeding, second stroke, etc.