Rehabilitation needs of community stroke patients

Purpose: The aim was to identify stroke patients not admitted to hospital, to assess their disabilities and the rehabilitation provided. Method: Stroke patients were notified by General Practitioners, assessed a month after stroke on measures of impairment and disability and the rehabil itation received was recorded. There were 124 patients notified and 93 asse ssed. Results: Patients showed an average decline of 1.7 on the Barthel Index and 3.6 on the Extended Activities of Daily Living scale from before to after stroke. There were 27 % with severe mobility problems and 47 % with clinica lly relevant arm impairment. Many patients had cognitive impairment with on ly 9% having no deficit. Mood problems were less common with 26% anxious an d 13% depressed. Significant stress occured in 15 % of carers. The provisio n of rehabilitation was low and there was poor correspondence between impai rments and services provided. Conclusion: There is an unmet potential for rehabilitation in stroke patien ts not admitted to hospital.