Effect of extended care on the rehabilitation of discharged stroke patients:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To explore the effect of hospital-community-family integrated care on the physical and mental function of discharged stroke patients. Methods Sixty stroke patients discharged from the third people's hospital of Bengbu were recruited from January 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015. The patients were divided into intervention group and control group by random number table, and 30 patients in each group. Rehabilitated nursing intervention including feeding, language, physical and psychological and psychological trainings were conducted in intervention group, while participants in control group only received routing nursing service. Then, the Barthel index scores, Fugl-Meyer motor function scores and Hanmilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores were assessed in both two groups pre-intervention and six months after intervention. Results Intervened before and 6 months after the intervention group of patients with Barthel index score respectively (44.17±11.21) points, (72.47±15.36) points, Fugl-Meyer motor function scores were respectively (43.47±16.22) points, (62.39±15.41) points, HAMD scores were (26.81±8.24) points, (17.42±6.29). The difference was statistically significant (t=8.16, 4.64, 4.97, P < 0.01). In contrast, the control group of patients with Barthel index score changes showed statistical significance (t=1.94, P=0.03), HAMD score also had differences (t=1.86, P=0.04) and the change was far less than the intervention group. Between the two groups after the intervention compared with Barthel index score, Fugl-Meyer motor function score and HAMD also had statistical significance (t=5.81, 3.55, 2.35, P = 0.00). Conclusions The rehabilitated nursing intervention has evident effects onliving environment,daily life, physical and mental function in discharged stroke patients, and the intervention approaches we used have certain clinical practice value. Key words: Stroke; Patient discharge; Rehabilitation nursing