Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33622269›Full record

Trial reportBMC geriatrics2021

Effectiveness of an integrated multidisciplinary geriatric rehabilitation programme for older persons with stroke: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Tom P M M Vluggen, Jolanda C M van Haastregt, Frans E Tan, Jeanine A Verbunt, Caroline M van Heugten, Jos M G A Schols

Open access · goldAbstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC geriatrics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Adaptive Interventions for Enhancing Participation Poststroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapie · 2026
    Pooled it
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  3. Integrated care management for patients following acute stroke: a systematic review.QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians · 2025
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Tom P M M VluggenDepartment of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Box 616, 6200, Maastricht, MD, The Netherlands. t.vluggen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Jolanda C M van HaastregtDepartment of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Box 616, 6200, Maastricht, MD, The Netherlands.
Frans E TanCare and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Jeanine A VerbuntCare and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Caroline M van HeugtenDepartment of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Jos M G A ScholsDepartment of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Box 616, 6200, Maastricht, MD, The Netherlands.
Maastricht University · NL

Funding

ZonMw 313070301
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlmost half of the stroke patients admitted to geriatric rehabilitation has persisting problems after discharge. Currently, there is no evidence based geriatric rehabilitation programme available for older stroke patients, combining inpatient rehabilitation with adequate ambulatory aftercare in the community. Therefore, we developed an integrated multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme that includes aftercare for older persons with stroke. We evaluated the effectiveness of this newly developed rehabilitation programme in comparison to usual care.

methodsA multicentre randomised controlled trial was conducted in eight geriatric rehabilitation stroke units and their collaborating partners in primary care. The study population involved stroke patients and their informal caregivers who were aged 65 or over, living in the community before admission to geriatric rehabilitation, and expected to be able to return home after discharge. The programme consisted of three modules: inpatient neurorehabilitation, home-based self-management training, and stroke education. For patients, daily activity (FAI) was assessed as primary outcome and functional dependence (Katz-15), perceived quality of life (SSQoL) and social participation (IPA) as secondary outcomes. Additionally, among informal caregivers perceived care burden (self-rated burden VAS), objective care burden (Erasmus iBMG), and quality of life (CarerQol), were assessed as secondary outcomes.

resultsIn total 190 patients and 172 informal caregivers were included. Mean age of the patients in the intervention group was 78.9 years (SD = 7.0) and in the usual care group 79.0 years (SD = 6.5). Significant favourable effects for the programme were observed for the subscale autonomy outdoors of the IPA (- 2.15, P = .047, and for the informal caregivers perceived care burden (1.23, P = .048. For the primary outcome daily activity and the other secondary outcomes, no significant effects were observed.

conclusionThe integrated multidisciplinary programme had no effect on daily activity of older stroke patients. However, patients participating in the programme had a higher level of perceived autonomy of outdoor activities and their informal caregivers perceived a lower care burden. The programme might be promising in providing adequate (after) care, although adaptation of the programme is recommended to increase its feasibility and improve its effects.

trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN62286281 . Registered 19-3-2010.

Indexed as

StrokeStroke RehabilitationActivities of Daily LivingAgedAged, 80 and overCaregiversHumansQuality of LifeAftercareElderly personsGeriatric rehabilitationRandomised controlled trialStroke

Identifiers

PMID33622269
PMCPMC7903755
OpenAlexW3116799874

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.