THE USE OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF STROKE IN THE COMMUNITY: RESULTS FROM A CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

The use of hospital and community services during the follow-up of a controlled trial which evaluated the effectiveness of a stroke unit and medical units in the management of acute stroke in the elderly is described. Patients from the stroke unit received more health and social services compared with medical unit patients, particularly in the initial follow-up period. The use of services was not related to the functional outcome of patients at hospital discharge. No overall difference occurred between stroke unit and medical unit patients in hospital bed days used throughout the study.