The search was developed in September 2009, using
the descriptors taken from the BVS Portal DECS (Health
Sciences Descriptors) and Nati onal Library MeSH (Medical
Subject Headings): Cuidados de Enfermagem and Acidente
Cerebral Vascular in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
In the databases SCOPUS and COCHRANE, non-controlled
descriptors were used.
The following inclusion criteria were set: full articles electronically
available; papers available in Portuguese, English or
Spanish; full research articles on nursing care, in the hospital
environment, to stroke patients over 18 years of age, which
answered the guiding research question