Authors' recommendations: Many studies and systematic reviews have assessed the impact of multidisciplinary ambulatory services for patients with different diseases. We found highest quality evidence on interventions for patients with stroke. There is limited evidence to draw firm conclusions for most patient groups and interventions, however. This is partly because there are too few and too small studies, but also because there are methodological weaknesses in how several of the studies are designed and conducted. We need more studies with robust design to support and develop rehabilitation efforts for patients with different chronic diseases living at home. The studies should be sufficiently large with long enough follow-up to provide answers to the most important outcomes. We need more research based knowledge for all patient groups. The report shows that it is possible to carry out well designed and conducted randomized controlled trials comparing different ways of organizing the treatment for the different patient groups. Several such studies have been conducted in Norway as well. Preferably such studies should be designed as randomized controlled studies. We also need more knowledge about the factors that may influence the effect of the interventions, or explain the variation in effect. International cooperation is desirable, both to get consistent definitions, larger studies of better quality and possibly also opportunities for meta-analysis based on individual patient data.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.kunnskapssenteret.no/Publikasjoner/9159.cms?language=english&threepage=1

Year Published: 2010

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Norway

Organisation Name: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Contact Address: Universitetsgata 2, Postbox 7004 St. Olavs plass, NO-0310 Oslo NORWAY. Tel: +47 23 25 50 00; Fax: +47 23 25 50 10;

Contact Name: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Contact Email: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Copyright: Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services (NOKC)