Die ambulante Versorgung von Schlaganfallpatienten aus Sicht von Hamburger Hausärzten - eine explorative Studie

TY - JOUR

T1 - Die ambulante Versorgung von Schlaganfallpatienten aus Sicht von Hamburger Hausärzten - eine explorative Studie

AU - Barzel, Anne

AU - Eisele, Marion

AU - Bussche van den, Hendrik

PY - 2008/3/1

Y1 - 2008/3/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Stroke is the archetype of a chronic disease, with a considerable burden on ambulatory care. After discharge from hospital or inpatient rehabilitation, stroke patients are attended primarily by general practitioners (GPs). Little is known about the quality of outpatient care for stroke patients, so this study focused on the views of professionals involved in outpatient care. METHODS: A postal survey of 443 general practitioners from Hamburg, Germany was undertaken. Results were compared with a parallel survey carried out with physiotherapists and occupational therapists. RESULTS: 89 questionnaires were analysed. Based on a response rate of 28% the results cannot be seen as representative, but they do provide important information. As it seems, problems in ambulatory care do not start after discharge from hospital, but are partly caused by inpatient care. GPs see therapeutic benefits in ambulatory care for only half of their chronic stroke patients. They assess their own therapeutic efforts as effective in terms of medication, but they are less successful in changing their patients' behaviour with regard to lifestyle. Estimations of the prevalence of post-stroke depression vary substantially, with a mean of 47%. With regard to their daily practice, 60% of GPs do not find guidelines to be helpful. All in all, respondents describe the situation of chronic stroke patients and their families to be complex and difficult to manage. In addition to their professional performance, GPs carry out duties related to case management - as do the therapists. CONCLUSION: The care of stroke patients is not only the responsibility of a single group of professionals, but is a rather complex task involving different health-care professionals. The rehabilitation process and the interdisciplinary cooperation need to be further analysed to ensure a good cooperation between health-care professionals and to improve the quality of ambulatory care for stroke patients.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Stroke is the archetype of a chronic disease, with a considerable burden on ambulatory care. After discharge from hospital or inpatient rehabilitation, stroke patients are attended primarily by general practitioners (GPs). Little is known about the quality of outpatient care for stroke patients, so this study focused on the views of professionals involved in outpatient care. METHODS: A postal survey of 443 general practitioners from Hamburg, Germany was undertaken. Results were compared with a parallel survey carried out with physiotherapists and occupational therapists. RESULTS: 89 questionnaires were analysed. Based on a response rate of 28% the results cannot be seen as representative, but they do provide important information. As it seems, problems in ambulatory care do not start after discharge from hospital, but are partly caused by inpatient care. GPs see therapeutic benefits in ambulatory care for only half of their chronic stroke patients. They assess their own therapeutic efforts as effective in terms of medication, but they are less successful in changing their patients' behaviour with regard to lifestyle. Estimations of the prevalence of post-stroke depression vary substantially, with a mean of 47%. With regard to their daily practice, 60% of GPs do not find guidelines to be helpful. All in all, respondents describe the situation of chronic stroke patients and their families to be complex and difficult to manage. In addition to their professional performance, GPs carry out duties related to case management - as do the therapists. CONCLUSION: The care of stroke patients is not only the responsibility of a single group of professionals, but is a rather complex task involving different health-care professionals. The rehabilitation process and the interdisciplinary cooperation need to be further analysed to ensure a good cooperation between health-care professionals and to improve the quality of ambulatory care for stroke patients.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Ambulatory Care

KW - Attitude of Health Personnel

KW - Female

KW - Germany

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Physicians, Family

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Stroke

U2 - 10.1055/s-2008-1062731

DO - 10.1055/s-2008-1062731

M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz

C2 - 18415925

VL - 70

SP - 170

EP - 176

JO - GESUNDHEITSWESEN

JF - GESUNDHEITSWESEN

SN - 0941-3790

IS - 3

ER -