The purpose of this study was to test the superiority of
comprehensive interdisciplinary postdischarge care management
over organized acute stroke department care
with enhanced discharge planning. We found that the
treatment effect was near 0 SD for all but the stroke knowledge and lifestyle modification domain, which
showed a significant effect of the intervention
Thus, comprehensive acute stroke department
care with communication to PCPs regarding inpatient
findings and discharge care plans appears to be sufficient
to optimize important stroke outcomes 6 months postdischarge.
Our results indicate, however, that postdischarge
stroke education could enhance stroke outcomes even
more. Future studies must determine whether care management
is more beneficial in populations without acute
stroke departments, with greater baseline need, or both