Table 1 Summary of study characteristics and main findings

a: RCTs

 Interventions by family caregivers

  Chu et al., 2020

China, RCT

N = 61

Age: intervention 62.84 (9.71), control 66.17 (8.51)

Female: intervention 68%, control 53%

Dx: stroke, ischemic 59%

Family-caregiver delivered, in-homes after training in hospital

Mobility: transfers, walking, stair climbing

ADL: grooming, dressing, bathing

Continence: bowel and bladder control, toileting

Conventional care, no post-discharge rehabilitation

6 months

ADLs: BI (0–100)

Mean (SD)

72.6 (21.18)

61.00 (34.63)

0.03

QOL: EQ-5D

Mean (SD)

1.55 (0.39)

1.56 (0.54)

0.91

  Zhou et al., 2019

China, RCT

N = 244

Age: intervention 64.3, control 66.2

Female: intervention 54%, control 56%

Dx: stroke, ischemic 73%

Family-caregiver delivered, in-home after training in hospital

Mobility: bed, balance, walking

ADL: grooming, dressing, bathing

Continence: bowel and bladder control, toileting

Conventional care (no post-discharge rehabilitation)

6 months

Walking: FAC (0–5)

Mean (SD)

4.6 (1.7)

5.0 (1.4)

0.04*

ADLs: BI (0–100)

Mean (SD)

70.1 (25.5)

74.1 (23.0)

p = 0.27*

QOL: EQ-5D (0–1)

Mean (SD)

0.7 (0.3)

0.8 (0.3)

0.15*

  Lindley et al., 2017

India, RCT

N = 1250

Age: intervention 57.5 (12.92), control 58 (14.21)

Female: intervention 68%, control 66%

Dx: stroke, ischemic 77%

Family-caregiver delivered, in-homes after training in hospital

Mobility: limb positioning

ADL: task specific activities

Post-discharge care (no therapy to some outpatient therapy sessions)

6 months

Mobility: EQ-5D-3L (proportion with some or severe deficits)

237/529 (45%)

228/510 (45%)

0.32

ADLs: BI (0–100)

Mean (SD)

82.1 (23.09)

82.6 (23.19)

0.74

ADLs: NEADL (0–66)

Mean (SD)

31.0 (17.67)

31.2 (17.52)

0.86

Selfcare: EQ-5D-3L (proportion with some or severe deficits)

251/529 (47%)

230/510 (45%)

0.75

  Ozdemiret al., 2001

Turkey, RCT

N = 60

Age: intervention 61.8 (9.2), control 59.1 (5.9)

Female: control 30%, intervention 63%

Dx: stroke, hemorrhagic 77%

Family-delivered, in-homes after training in hospital

Mobility: convenient bed positioning and exercises. Splints, orthoses, and devices were also provided

Therapeutic exercises and neuromuscular facilitation exercises, physical agents

5 months

Function independence: FIM (18–126), mean change score (SD)

59.63 (14.19)

12.30 (13.38)

0.001

 Interventions by community health workers

  Cobbing et al., 2017

South Africa, RCT

N = 76

Age: intervention 43.4, control 44.7

Female: intervention 76.3%, control 76.3%

Dx: HIV

CHWs-delivered in-homes

Mobility: aerobic exercises, strength and stretch (upper and lower limbs) and functional exercises (sitting to standing and bridging) and walking

Conventional care, no rehabilitation in the community

6 months

Mobility: WHODAS (0–4), mean (SD)

0.18 (0.56)

0.21 (0.59)

 > 0.05

Mobility: RMI (0–15)

Mean (SD)

14.24 (1.50)

13.82 (2.33)

> 0.05

Walking: 6MWT (distance), mean (SD)

327.71 (73.61)

303.29 (92.48)

> 0.05

QOL: WHOQOL (1–5), mean (SD)

3.62 (0.70)

3.41 (0.93)

> 0.05

b. Non-RCTs

 Interventions delivered by non-professional community health workers or volunteers

  Ru et al., 2017

China, non-randomized controlled experiment

N = 365

Age: 61.9 (9.5)

Female: 28.9%

Dx: stroke, cerebral hemorrhage: 70 (20%)

CRAT by community rehabilitation workers and family caregivers in community centers and patients’ home

Mobility: lying, sitting, sitting-to-standing, and standing

No special intervention

3 months

ADLs: BI (0–100) (proportion of severity of disease: ≥ 3 and < 4; ≥ 4)

Mean (SD)

Function: Fugl–Meyer motor function assessment (0–100) (proportion of severity of disease: ≥ 3 and < 4; ≥ 4)

Mean (SD)

Chinchai et al., 2021

Thailand, pre- and post-test

N = 11

Age (range): 41–80 Female: 27%

Dx: stroke

Rehabilitation education by VHWs in community rehabilitation centers

Fundamental knowledge of stroke

Mobility: physical exercise and gait training, UE function training

ADL: selfcare, transfers, home chores

No control group

2 months

Basic ADLs: the ADL assessment tool (BADL) (23–155)

Mean (SD)

67.41 (23.31)

75.50 (21.17)

0.026

Chinchai et al., 2020

Thailand, pre- and post-test

N = 25

Age (range): 30–80

Female: 40%

Dx: stroke

Rehabilitation education by VHWs in community rehabilitation centers

Basic knowledge of stroke, mobility: exercise and gait, transfers, UE functional training

ADL: dressing, grooming

No control group

3 months

QOL: WHOQOL–BREF–THAI (0–100)

Mean (SD)

71.44(8.38)

84.88(12.07)

0.000

Community integration: CIQ (0–29)

Mean [SD])

9.80 (3.96)

11.44 (4.68)

0.006

Chinchai et al., 2017

Thailand, pre and post-test

N = 27

Age range: 30–80

Female: 37%

Dx: stroke

Rehabilitation education by VHWs in patients’ homes

Basic knowledge of stroke, mobility: gait training, balance, and UE and LE functional training

No control group

2 months

Walking: 10-m walk test

Mean (SD)

34.73 (8.48) 0.17 m/s

32.18 (9.32)

0.19 m/s

p < 0.05

UE function: FMA (0–44)

Mean (SD)

36.81 (9.59)

37.26 (9.67)

0.474

Balasubramanian et al., 2012

India, comparative observational

N = 30

Age: IBR 37 (18.13), CBR 54 (13.55)

Dx: locomotor disabilities

IBR by healthcare professionals*

CBR by CBR workers

Not described^a

Function: FIM (18–126)

Mean (SD)

IBR: 117.40 (3.04)

CBR: 111.60 (12.02)

> 0.05

QOL: WHOQOL–BREF: (1–5)

Mean (SD

IBR: 4.20 (0.414)

CBR: 4.00 (1.604)

> 0.05