OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine patients' preferences for stroke rehabilitation programs in Japan.

METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was administered to subjects with a history of stroke using a discrete choice experiment. Attributes of stroke rehabilitation were treatment time (30 minutes, one hour, one and a half hour), treatment content (walking exercises, ADL exercises), priority treatment of paralyzed limbs (upper extremity, lower upper extremity), treatment location (hospital visit, house visit), therapist gender, and out-of-pocket costs. The results of the discrete choice experiment were analyzed using regression analysis with a conditional logit model. Coefficients for the effect of each attribute were calculated based on the level of least preference.

RESULTS: Six hundred people with a history of stroke responded. The most common self-reported diagnosis was cerebral infarction (408 patients, 68%). The mean age was 62.0 ± 9.8 years, and 515 (85.8%) were male. Of the five attributes, excluding out-of-pocket costs, the highest relative importance score was treatment location (0.331), followed by treatment time (0.304). Among the rehabilitation programs, the statistically significant coefficients calculated were one hour of therapy (0.173, 95% CI = 0.088-0.258), hospital visits (0.241, 95% CI = 0.180-0.303), and female therapists (0.186, 95% CI = 0.125-0. 247). No significant differences were obtained regarding the treatment contents or the paralyzed limb to be treated.

CONCLUSIONS: Discrete choice experiments revealed stroke patients' preferences for rehabilitation programs. The results of this study may provide useful information for rehabilitation professionals.