Stroke Units

Based on a major systematic review from international centres this concise text discusses the benefits of managing stroke patients in specialised units compared to management outside the hospital. It provides invaluable information in the most effective management for this chronically disabled sector Authorship.

Contributors.

Foreword by Iain Chalmers.

Preface.

1. The Stroke Unit Story.

2. How Should We Evaluate Our Interventions?.

3. Assembling Evidence About Stoke Units.

4. Effectiveness of Organised (Stroke Unit) Care.

5. Economics of Stroke Unit Care.

6. Implications for Planning Stroke Services.

7. Implications for Future Research.

Appendix: Descriptions of Stroke Unit Care.

Glossary of Terms.

References.

Index.

"This concise book of 136 pages is clearly written and will be of use to all those wishing to reorganise their inpatient stroke service" - SAMJ Forum Peter Langhorne and Martin Dennis have written most chapters and take editorial responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in this book. Additional contributions (Chapter 5 and Appendix) have been made by invited authors. However, many other individuals have contributed to the project and the main body of data, descriptive information, and useful advice and comment have been provided by members of a collaborative review group (the Stroke Unit Trialists’ Collaboration - see list below). Therefore individual chapters of the book should be cited as follows: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 - Langhorne and Dennis on behalf of the Stroke Unit Trialists’ Collaboration; 5 - Major and Walker; Appendix - Perth unit: Hankey and colleagues, Trondheim unit; Indredavik and colleagues, Orpington unit: Kalra, Nottingham unit: Berman and colleagues. Based on systematic reviews carried out by the Stroke Unit Trialists’ Collaboration, this concise text discusses the place of in-patient stroke unit care in the management of stroke patients. It provides a unique evidence based analysis of the effectiveness of the stroke unit - in terms of reduction of mortality and disability, and resource implications. There are also chapters on implementation and situations where more research is required. Contents include:

• 
  
• The history of the stroke unit.
  
• How should we evaluate our interventions?
  
• Assembling evidence about stroke units.
  
• Effectiveness of organised (stroke unit) care.
  
• Economics of stroke unit care.
  
• Implications for planning stroke services.
  
• Implications for further research.

With user friendly case histories, key points summaries, and a glossary of terms, this will be an essential evidence based guide to the current information on organising stroke care. It will appeal to all clinicians in stroke care, public health doctors, hospital managers, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and everyone involved with the rehabilitation of stroke patients.