[Preliminary study on outcome assessment system of treatment of stroke].

Objective: In order to scientifically reflect the real efficacy of TCM treatment and to preliminarily establish a definitely valid and reliable assessment system of stroke treatment, with multi-dimensional outcome assessment indexes, including efficacy evaluation system of conventional western medicine, syndrome evaluation criteria in TCM and quality of life assessment system.

Methods: An integrative approach of cross-sectional survey and prospective follow-up was adopted. Two hundred and forty-five case-episodes of stroke patients were assessed by determining such parameters as nerve functional deficit scale, grading of total status of living ability, activity of daily living (ADL), TCM stroke criteria of diagnosing-treatment, TCM syndrome related symptoms/signs, Health Survey Questionnaire (Short form 36, SF-36), and index of quality of life (QOL), and their construction and relation were analyzed by such methods as multivariate relation, partial relation, linear regression, factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficients, and the responsiveness estimation.

Results: The multi-dimensional assessment system of stroke treatment, containing 57 indexes with clarified constructions and classification, was created, and its validity and reliability confirmed after assessement. Various degrees of relationship were found between different TCM Syndromes and different domains of QOL.

Conclusion: The assessment system of stroke treatment preliminarily created has satisfied reliability and validity. It could be expected to reflect the real efficacy of TCM treatment more inclusive and accurate. TCM Syndrome indexes are considered to be the factor related to both domains of mental and physical health, particularly with the former, therefore, to improve the TCM Syndrome would imply improvement of the mental health, physical health and QOL of the patients.