Abstract

The aim of this cohort study is to describe community reintegration for adults who accepted or declined a navigation service delivered by community navigators at an outpatient stroke clinic in northeastern Ontario. Sociodemographic, recent acute hospitalization, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient data was extracted from 128 medical records over the one-year study period. Sixty percent of the outpatients accepted the navigation service. Participants who chose the navigation service had significantly longer acute hospital stays compared to those who declined the service. Persons who rated their general health as “excellent/very good,” as opposed to “fair/poor,” and had lower community reintegration scores at a six-week outpatient stroke clinic visit were more likely to accept navigation service. The preliminary profile of persons who accept navigation may have utility for clinicians as they initiate early dialogue about resources to support the transition from hospital to community. In addition, study findings may inform healthcare providers responsible for community-based stroke service planning and evaluation.