Nurse–physiotherapist collaboration and functional recovery of stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital

Background: Recovery after stroke is often hindered when healthcare professionals work in isolation. Coordinated efforts between nurses and physiotherapists may improve patient outcomes. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of nurse–physiotherapist collaborative rehabilitation on functional recovery, motor function, quality of life, and disability among stroke patients. Materials and Methods: A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Ninety adult stroke patients were randomized into intervention (n = 45) and control (n = 45) groups. The intervention group received a 6-week rehabilitation program combining joint goal setting, coordinated nursing and physiotherapy sessions, shared documentation, and weekly team reviews, whereas the control group received standard care. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months using the Barthel Index (primary), Fugl–Meyer assessment, stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL), and modified Rankin scale (mRS). Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Patients in the intervention group showed greater functional improvement than controls. Barthel Index scores increased from 35.4 ± 10.2 at baseline to 85.1 ± 10.7 at 3 months, compared with 36.1 ± 9.8–68.9 ± 12.0 in controls ( P < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed for Fugl–Meyer assessment, SS-QOL, and mRS. High adherence, few adverse events, and consistent program fidelity supported feasibility. Improvements were attributed to the combination of nursing reinforcement, structured physiotherapy, patient education, and psychosocial support. Conclusion: Nurse–physiotherapist collaboration significantly enhances functional recovery, motor function, quality of life, and reduces disability in stroke patients. Implementing structured interprofessional rehabilitation in clinical practice is feasible and beneficial.