Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the use of standardised instruments to describe functioning in stroke patients in the transition from hospital to home-based rehabilitation.
Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 26 hospitals discharging patients with stroke and 52 primary care health services treating stroke patients at home, within an area with a population of three million. Questionnaires were targeted at healthcare professionals who typically take part in home-based stroke rehabilitation asking: "Which instruments, outcome measures or tests are commonly used to describe functioning in persons with stroke?" Instruments routinely used to assess functioning were reported.
Results: 85% of the hospitals and 90% of the primary care services returned the questionnaire. 95% of the hospitals and 96% of the primary care services used standardised instruments. Hospitals reported 61 standardised instruments and primary care services reported 60 standardised instruments. A total of 89 standardised instruments were reported. No instrument was used in every hospital or primary care service.
Conclusions: The vast majority of services use standardised instruments, but there is absolutely no consensus on which instruments to use. There is a strong need for recommendations on which instruments should be used in stroke rehabilitation in the transition from hospital-based to home-based rehabilitation.
Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the Management Forum for Collaboration between Aarhus University and the Central Denmark Region, Denmark. None of the authors have any personal financial interests in the work undertaken or the findings reported.
Trial registration: not relevant.
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