The scope for rehabilitation in severely disabled stroke patients

Which body functions and activities matter for stroke patients? Study protocol for best-Worst scalings to value core elements of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a common, serious, and disabling healthcare problem with increasing incidence and prevalence. Following a stroke, identifying the factors associated with decisions about rehabilitation interventions is important to assess rehabilitation after stroke. The aim is to guide clinical staff to make patient-centered decisions. Fundamentally, decision makers cannot draw on evidence to consider the relevance of distinct functions and activities from the patient's perspective. Until now, outcomes of rehabilitation are generally categorized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). This can be seen as a conceptual basis for the assessment of health and disability. Since the ICF does not distinguish importance between these aspects there is a need to value the most important clinical factors as well as related activities from a patients and public perspective to help guide therapists in effectively designing post-acute rehabilitation care for individuals following stroke. The research question is which ICF body functions and activities are of value to stroke patients? Which trade-offs are patients willing to make within the core elements? Health preference research (HPR) answers the need to develop additional preference weights for certain ICF dimensions. Patient preference information (PPI) values health conditions based on the ICF from a patient perspective.

METHODS

In this study we conduct three best-worst scaling (BWS) experiments to value body function and activities from patients' and public perspective. Out of all ICF dimensions this research covers health conditions relevant to stroke patients in terms of body function, perception, and activities of daily living. Stroke patients as well as members of the general population will be recruited to participate in the online BWS surveys. Fractional, efficient designs are applied regarding the survey design. Conditional and multinominal logit analyses will be used as the main analysis method, with the best-worst count analysis as a secondary analysis. The survey is being piloted prior to commencing the process of data collection. Results are expected by the autumn of 2023.

DISCUSSION

The research will add to the current literature on clinical decision-making in stroke rehabilitation and the value of certain body functions as well as related activities in neurorehabilitation. Moreover, the study will show whether body functions and activities that are currently equally weighted in international guidelines are also equally important from the point of view of those affected, or whether there are disconcordances in terms of differences between public judgements and patients' preferences.

The rehabilitation of physical function after severely disabling stroke: a survey of UK therapist practice

Background/aims

Individuals who are severely disabled from stroke (survivors of severely disabling stroke) experience poorer outcomes compared to those who are less disabled from stroke. However, there is a paucity of evidence describing current therapy practice in the management of severely disabling stroke. The aim of the study was to describe intervention and outcome measure use by physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the rehabilitation of physical function of survivors of severely disabling stroke.

Methods

A mixed-methods survey was conducted, involving an online questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Survey participants were UK-based physiotherapists and occupational therapists with experience treating stroke. Questionnaire data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Interview data were analysed using content analysis.

Results

A total of 452 therapists (59% physiotherapists) responded to the questionnaire. Out of the respondents, 18 self-selected therapists participated in follow-up interviews to explain questionnaire data. Whole body positioning, training of upper limb handling and positioning, and sitting balance practice were the most frequently used interventions. Inpatient-based therapists performed more active rehabilitation interventions, whereas community-based therapists performed more training and education. The Barthel Index, Modified Rankin Scale and National Institutes for Health Stroke Scale were the most frequently used outcome measures. Outcome measure use was generally low and was more likely to be completed when it was part of a national audit. Reasons for low outcome measure use were perceived lack of time and insensitivity to detect clinical change.

Conclusions

A variety of interventions and outcome measures are used in the rehabilitation of survivors of severely disabling stroke. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of frequently used interventions and identify outcome measures that are sensitive to the needs of survivors of severely disabling stroke.

Most Important Factors for Deciding Rehabilitation Provision for Severe Stroke Survivors Post Hospital Discharge: A Study Protocol for a Best-Worst Scaling Experiment

Efficient decision-making is crucial to ensure adequate rehabilitation with optimal use of healthcare resources. Establishing the factors associated with making decisions concerning rehabilitation provision is important to guide clinical staff towards person-centred decisions for rehabilitation after severe stroke. In this study we conduct a best–worst scaling (BWS) experiment to identify the most important factors and their relative weight of importance for deciding the type of ongoing rehabilitation services a person with severe stroke might receive post hospital discharge. Fractional, efficient designs are applied regarding the survey design. Key multidisciplinary staff regularly involved in making decisions for rehabilitation in a stroke unit will be recruited to participate in an online BWS survey. Hierarchical Bayes estimation will be used as the main analysis method, with the best–worst count analysis as a secondary analysis. The survey is currently being piloted prior to commencing the process of data collection. Results are expected by the end of September 2021. The research will add to the current literature on clinical decision-making in stroke rehabilitation. Findings will quantify the preferences of factors among key multi-disciplinary clinicians working in stroke units in the UK, involved in decision-making concerning rehabilitation after stroke.

The European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Executive Committee and the ESO Writing Committee. Guidelines for management of ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack 2008. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2008;25:457-507. [PMID: 18477843 DOI: 10.1159/000131083]

This article represents the update of the European Stroke Initiative Recommendations for Stroke Management. These guidelines cover both ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attacks, which are now considered to be a single entity. The article covers referral and emergency management, Stroke Unit service, diagnostics, primary and secondary prevention, general stroke treatment, specific treatment including acute management, management of complications, and rehabilitation.