Table 3 Adherence to applicable clinical care processes as a measure of care quality
Processes of care indicatorsPre-programme(n = 703)n (%)Post-programme(PP) (n = 884) n (%)Stroke unit care PP (n = 712) n (%)
Within 24 h
    Brain imaging†618 (89)844 (96)*681 (96)*
    Documentation of swallowing ‡387 (56)623 (73)*525 (75)*
    Documentation of swallowing if admitted with impaired speech272/458 (59)430/590 (73)*364/484 (76)*
    Aspirin if ischaemic stroke and not previously on aspirin196/378 (52)284/436 (65)*238/368 (65)*
General management
    Admitted to stroke unit§85 (13)623 (71)*623 (88)*
    Any care in a stroke unit during admission¶109 (16)712 (81)*712 (100)*
    Palliative care§32 (5)44 (5)21 (3)
Allied health assessment¶639 (91)848 (96)*696 (98)*
    Physiotherapy‡573 (83)775 (89)*650 (92)*
        Within 48 h admission‡296 (43)530 (61)*449 (64)*
    Speech therapy‡505 (73)717 (82)*601 (86)*
        Within 48 h admission381 (55)571 (66)*487 (69)*
    Occupational therapy§487 (72)725 (84)*619 (88)*
        Within 48 h admission§172 (25)386 (45)*348 (50)*
    Any allied health within 48 h¶516 (73)728 (82)*602 (85)*
Family meeting within 7 days with multidisciplinary team‡58 (8)226 (26)*204 (29)*
Clinical care plan to avoid complications and urinary incontinence‡309 (45)592 (67)*514 (72)*
Clinical pathway during admission‡110 (16)494 (56)*459 (65)*

  • *p<0.05.

  • †<1% missing; ‡<3% missing; §<5% missing; ¶derived variable where missing or “unknown” data was assumed to be “no”.