Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Mar;12(3):e70140.
doi: 10.1002/nop2.70140.

The Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Transition Care on Post-Discharge Outcomes of Adult Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nyagwaswa Athanas Michael  1   2 , Lilian Teddy Mselle  2 , Edith Mroso Tarimo  2 , Yingjuan Cao  1   3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Transition Care on Post-Discharge Outcomes of Adult Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nyagwaswa Athanas Michael et al. Nurs Open. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led Transition Care (TC) on quality of life, mortality and readmission among adult stroke survivors.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness.

Methods: Databases were searched from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2023. Search was done in Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, EBSCOhost, Web of Science and Cochrane Library and Central Registry of Clinical Trials. The randomised controlled trials that assessed the effectiveness of nurse-led TC for adult stroke survivors were included. The primary outcome was 1-year quality of life, whereas the secondary outcomes were mortality and readmission. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality appraisal by using the JBI methodology. Random effect models and pre-specified subgroup analyses were performed using Review Manager Software Version 5.3. and STATA Version 17.

Results: Of 1093 studies retrieved from database search, only 18 studies met the review inclusion criteria. The pooled results show that stroke survivors who were allocated to nurse-led TC programs had a 1-year better quality of life compared to those allocated to usual care (12 studies; SMD = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.20, 0.85; p = 0.002; I2 = 94%). However, no significant differences in the odds of mortality and readmission were observed. No patient or public contribution.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The pooled effect of nurse‐led transition care programs on stroke survivors' quality of life.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The pooled effect of nurse‐led transition care programs on mortality.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
The pooled effect of nurse‐led transition care programs on readmission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Allen, K. , Hazelett S., Jarjoura D., et al. 2009. “A Randomized Trial Testing the Superiority of a Postdischarge Care Management Model for Stroke Survivors.” Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases: The Official Journal of National Stroke Association 18, no. 6: 443–452. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Allen, K. R. , Hazelett S., Jarjoura D., et al. 2002. “Effectiveness of a Postdischarge Care Management Model for Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Randomized Trial.” Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases: The Official Journal of National Stroke Association 11, no. 2: 88–98. - PubMed
    1. Askim, T. , Rohweder G., Lydersen S., and Indredavik B.. 2004. “Evaluation of an Extended Stroke Unit Service With Early Supported Discharge for Patients Living in a Rural Community. A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Clinical Rehabilitation 18, no. 3: 238–248. - PubMed
    1. Berthelsen, C. , Møller N., and Bunkenborg G.. 2024. “Transitional Care Model for Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions: An Evaluation of Benefits Utilising an Umbrella Review.” Journal of Clinical Nursing 33, no. 2: 481–496. - PubMed
    1. Boter, H. 2004. “Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of an Outreach Nursing Support Program for Recently Discharged Stroke Patients.” Stroke 35, no. 12: 2867–2872. - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources