Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials, observational studies and qualitative studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed any multidisciplinary planning process in primary care for the management of adults with completed stroke. Eligible studies were required to involve a general practitioner (GP) who played an active role in the discharge planning process (mostly face-to-face or teleconferenced meetings, but not excluding other models). Study outcomes were not part of the selection criteria, but outcomes that related to processes of care, biomedical status and self-report measures were included.
Included studies were of acute stroke patients who required hospitalisation, stroke patients discharged from stroke units or patients discharged to rural areas. Interventions included home-based care or discharge planning with comprehensive co-ordination with primary care services, with different levels of involvement from primary care professionals. Outcomes, including function, mortality, quality of life and service utilisation were measured between three and 52 weeks post-discharge using various measurement tools. Qualitative studies included guidelines and studies that described theoretical assumptions, models of care or the role of primary care.
Two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus.