Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum follow-up period of 6 month were included. These had to employ a multi-disciplinary patient approach, have at least three therapies involved per treatment, and be coordinated by a rehabilitation physician.
Specific interventions included in the review
(1) DHR (physiotherapy, psychology, speech therapy, social work, rehabilitation engineering, occupational therapy and rehabilitation medicine) versus conventional care, no treatment other than practice instructions, and home physiotherapy in five studies; or (2) domiciliary rehabilitation versus routine hospital-based rehabilitation services (out-patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy) in one study.
Participants included in the review
Patients who were being treated on an in- or out-patient basis for the effects of stroke were included. The average ages ranged from 63 to 79.6 years,
Outcomes assessed in the review
Significant improvement of impairments, disabilities, handicaps and/or quality of life after treatment with DHR, which were measured by a variety of test instruments designed to measure these outcomes. Four of the 6 studies used test measurements for impairment, all 6 studies used test measurements for disabilities, 2 of the 6 studies used test measurements for handicap, and 2 of the 6 studies used test measurements for quality of life.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.