Adherence to medication and self-management in stroke patients

An Umbrella Review of Self-Management Interventions for Health Conditions With Symptom Overlap With Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize evidence for the effectiveness of self-management interventions for chronic health conditions that have symptom overlap with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in order to extract recommendations for self-management intervention in persons with TBI.

DESIGN

An umbrella review of existing systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized studies targeting self-management of chronic conditions and specific outcomes relevant to persons with TBI.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature search of 5 databases was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Two independent reviewers conducted screening and data extraction using the Covidence web-based review platform. Quality assessment was conducted using criteria adapted from the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2).

RESULTS

A total of 26 reviews met the inclusion criteria, covering a range of chronic conditions and a range of outcomes. Seven reviews were of moderate or high quality and focused on self-management in persons with stroke, chronic pain, and psychiatric disorders with psychotic features. Self-management interventions were found to have positive effects on quality of life, self-efficacy, hope, reduction of disability, pain, relapse and rehospitalization rates, psychiatric symptoms, and occupational and social functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings are encouraging with regard to the effectiveness of self-management interventions in patients with symptoms similar to those of TBI. However, reviews did not address adaptation of self-management interventions for those with cognitive deficits or for populations with greater vulnerabilities, such as low education and older adults. Adaptations for TBI and its intersection with these special groups may be needed.

Relationship between People's Interest in Medication Adherence, Health Literacy, and Self-Care: An Infodemiological Analysis in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Era

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases has risen sharply in recent years, particularly among older individuals who require complex drug regimens. Patients are increasingly required to manage their health through medication adherence and self-care, but about 50% of patients struggle to adhere to prescribed treatments. This study explored the relationship between interest in medication adherence, health literacy, and self-care and how it changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used Google Trends to measure relative search volumes (RSVs) for these three topics from 2012 to 2022. We found that interest in self-care increased the most over time, followed by health literacy and medication adherence. Direct correlations emerged between RSVs for medication adherence and health literacy (r = 0.674, p < 0.0001), medication adherence and self-care (r = 0.466, p < 0.0001), and health literacy and self-care (r = 0.545, p < 0.0001). After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, interest in self-care significantly increased, and Latin countries showed a greater interest in self-care than other geographical areas. This study suggests that people are increasingly interested in managing their health, especially in the context of the recent pandemic, and that infodemiology may provide interesting information about the attitudes of the population toward chronic disease management.

Clinical pharmacist's contribution to treatment adherence and quality of life in patients with stroke

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

The optimal treatment adherence rate among patients with stroke is low. This study aims to determine the effect of clinical pharmacists' intervention on treatment adherence and quality of life (QOL) in patients with first-ever stroke.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This open, controlled, prospective and interventional study was conducted sequentially at two different university hospitals for 3 months. Patients in the intervention group (IG) were provided with clinical pharmacist-led education whereas the control group (CG) only received routine care.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Treatment adherence and QOL were assessed on discharge day, and in months 1 and 3 after discharge. Morisky Green Levine Adherence Scale and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale were employed to evaluate treatment adherence and QOL, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Changes in treatment adherence score were higher between discharge day, 1^st and 3^rd months after discharge in IG than CG (p < 0.001). Regarding 'energy' and 'work/productivity' domains, patients' scores in IG were higher than those from CG at months 1 and 3 after discharge (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Clinical pharmacist-led education improves treatment adherence in patients with first-ever stroke. The clinical pharmacist might be integrated into the multidisciplinary team to improve QOL and treatment adherence.

The effectiveness of self-management interventions with action-taking components in improving health-related outcomes for adult stroke survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesise the evidence of the effectiveness of self-management interventions with action-taking components in improving self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and depression for adult stroke survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nine electronic databases were searched for relevant studies, including grey literature and ongoing studies. Randomised controlled trials targeting adult stroke survivors comparing health-related outcomes of patients receiving self-management interventions with action-taking components to usual care, placebo, or no-treatment were included. Screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were conducted by two reviewers. Meta-analyses were performed. Overall quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE tool.

RESULTS

A total of seventeen studies were included. Meta-analyses showed that the intervention may result in a slight increase in self-efficacy (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.07-0.52], p = 0.010, I² = 47%) and basic activities of daily living (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI [0.16-0.46], p < 0.001, I² = 0%), but not for the other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-management interventions with action-taking components may result in a slight improvement in self-efficacy and rehabilitation of basic activities of daily living. Future research should investigate which core self-management skill, or combination of them, is most effective in improving short-term and long-term outcomes.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONStroke can be a chronic condition as approximately half of stroke survivors suffer from permanent disabilities.Self-management interventions are one form of rehabilitation programmes available to stroke survivors.Self-management interventions with action-taking components may result in a slight increase in patient self-efficacy and carrying out basic activities of daily living compared to usual care given.

Medications adherence and associated factors among patients with stroke in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background

Stroke is one of the most significant neurological problems around the world, and is considered a leading cause of death. Due to polypharmacy and multimorbidity, stroke patients are susceptible to have lower levels of adherence to their medications and self-care activities.

Methods

Patients who have suffered a stroke and had recently been admitted to public hospital were approached for recruitment. Patients' adherence to their medications was examined using a validated questionnaire during an interview between the principal investigator and the patients, where patients' adherence to their self-care activities was assessed using a developed, validated and previously published questionnaire as well. Reasons for lack of adherence was explored from the patients. Verification of patient's details and medications was done via the patient's hospital file.

Results

The mean age of the participants (n=173) was 53.21 (SD= 8.61) years. Assessing patients' adherence to medications showed that more than half of them stated that they sometimes/often forgot to take their medication/s, while 41.0% sometimes/often stopped their medication/s from time to time. The mean adherence to medications score (out of 28) was 18.39 (SD=2.1), with 83.8% having a low adherence level. It is found that patients who did not take their medications were due to forgetfulness (46.8%) and complications from taking the medications (20.2%). Better adherence was associated with higher educational level, higher number of medical conditions, and higher frequency of glucose monitoring. Adherence to self-care activities showed that majority of patients performed correct self-care activities three times a week.

Conclusion

Post-stroke patients in Saudi Arabia have indicated low levels of medication adherence, while reporting good adherence to their self-care activities. Better adherence was associated with certain patient characteristics such as higher educational level. These findings can help in focusing the efforts to improve adherence and health outcomes for stroke patients in the future.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire for assessing self-management behaviors in stroke survivors

OBJECTIVES

To develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Stroke Self-management Behaviors Performance Scale (SSBPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. An 11-item SSBPS was developed. Its content validity was reviewed by an expert panel, and it was piloted among six stroke survivors. Participants completed the SSBPS and four additional measures, namely Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale and Reintegration to Normal Living Index, at baseline and the SSBPS again after four weeks. Principal component factor analysis was performed to examine the factor structure. Internal consistency, convergent validity and test-test reliability were evaluated.

RESULTS

128 stroke survivors completed the SSBPS and additional measures. Thirty-four of them completed the SSBPS again after four weeks. A two-factor structure of "Psychosocial management" and "Medical management" consisting of nine items was identified and accounted for 62% of the total variance. The SSBPS had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.65-0.88) and test-retest reliability (Intra-class correlation coefficient=0.57-0.73). The SSBPS total score was significantly correlated with the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire total (r=0.63, p<0.01), Reintegration to Normal Living Index total and subscales (r=0.60-0.69, p<0.01), Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale total and all domains (r=0.19-0.61, p<0.05), and Geriatric Depression Scale total (r=-0.50, p<0.01) scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The desirable psychometric properties of the SSBPS provide evidence that the scale may be reliable and valid for assessing stroke survivors' performance of self-management behaviors. It would inform the development of effective strategies to promote positive self-management behavioral performance for optimal recovery.

Exploring attitudes towards use of technology to support stroke survivors living at home: A quantitative and qualitative content analysis study in Spain

Purpose

The aim of this study was to better understand the attitudes towards the use of technology to support chronic stroke survivors in a home-based setting.

Methods

A quantitative study was used on the data obtained from a face to face survey with the sample group, incorporating quantitative statistical analysis.

Results

Participants reported positive attitudes towards using technology for their own independent health management. The purpose of the home-based technology was different: source of information, supporting self-management, pharmacological treatment reminders… and differed according to age, educational level and survivor disability. Installing devices and sharing information remains a challenge.

Conclusions

100% of stroke survivors living in the community with any type of disability, reported that they would like to use technology as a tool to help improve their health status.

A systematic overview of systematic reviews evaluating medication adherence interventions

PURPOSE

To systematically summarize evidence from multiple systematic reviews (SRs) examining interventions addressing medication nonadherence and to discern differences in effectiveness by intervention, patient, and study characteristics.

SUMMARY

MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were searched for papers published from January 2004 to February 2017. English-language SRs examining benefits of medication adherence interventions were eligible. Inclusion was limited to adult patients prescribed medication for 1 of the following disease conditions: diabetes and prediabetes, heart conditions, hypertension and prehypertension, stroke, and cognitive impairment. Non-disease-specific SRs that considered medication adherence interventions for older adults, adults with chronic illness, and adults with known medication adherence problems were also included. Two researchers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. They then extracted key variables from eligible SRs, reconciling discrepancies via discussion. A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) was used to assess SRs; those with scores below 8 were excluded. Conclusions regarding intervention effectiveness were extracted. Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was applied to assess evidence quality.

RESULTS

Of 390 SRs, 25 met the inclusion criteria and assessed adherence as a primary outcome. Intervention types most consistently found to be effective were dose simplification, patient education, electronic reminders to patients, and reduced patient cost sharing or incentives. Of 50 conclusions drawn by the SRs, the underlying evidence was low or very low quality for 45 SRs.

CONCLUSION

Despite an abundance of primary studies and despite only examining high-quality SRs, the vast majority of primary studies supporting SR authors' conclusions were of low or very low quality. Nonetheless, health system leaders seeking to improve medication adherence should prioritize interventions that have been studied and found to be effective at improving patient adherence, including dose simplification, education, reminders, and financial incentives.

Using a structured, patient-centred, educational exchange to facilitate a shared conversation about stroke prevention medications

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a structured patient-centred educational exchange to facilitate a shared conversation about stroke prevention medications.

METHODS

Participants (18 years or older) with a principal diagnosis of stroke or transient ischaemic attack were purposively sampled from the stroke unit of a 780-bed teaching hospital in Australia and consented to participate in the study. A patient-centred educational exchange was conducted face to face at the bedside before discharge and by telephone post discharge. The structure of these sessions was adapted from academic detailing, an educational strategy, which includes identifying experience, listening to the needs of the audience, and tailoring messages to influence behaviour. To facilitate sharing of needs, three questionnaires, validated as research tools, were used to identify participants' experience, perceptions, and beliefs. The identified perceptions were used to personalize educational messages. The outcomes of the study were to provide descriptions of patients' perceptions necessities and concerns about their condition and medications, provide examples of personalized responses to these, evaluate acceptability by patients, and determine the time taken to share the information.

RESULTS

Sixteen participants completed both the bedside session (average duration 27 minutes) and the telephone follow-up (average duration 23 minutes). The strongest patient concern identified was having another stroke. Personalized responses included emphasizing long-term treatment in response to the perception that stroke will last for a short time, reinforcement of necessity for medications, and further exploration of concerns.

CONCLUSION

The questionnaires engaged the participants, allowing them to share perceptions and beliefs, facilitating a patient-centred educational exchange in a timely manner.

Efficacy and Usability of eHealth Technologies in Stroke Survivors for Prevention of a New Stroke and Improvement of Self-Management: Phase III Randomized Control Trial

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a leading cause of severe and long-term disability in developed countries. Around 15 million people suffer a stroke each year, being most of them ischemic due to modifiable risk factors. Adequate self-management abilities may help to manage the consequences of stroke, but it is unknown which specific intervention could be effective to booster these self-management abilities.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the improvement of self-management in chronic stroke survivors using decision support and self-management system (STARR).

METHODS

A randomized, prospective, parallel group, open, and the unicentric pilot trial will be performed. Stroke survivors and their caregivers will be randomly allocated to STARR management or standard of care. Main inclusion criteria are mild to moderate disabled first stroke adult survivor, living at home, able to cope and follow the guidelines and devices, without socio-familial exclusion. All will get a conventional treatment in the acute and subacute phase; however, in the chronic period, cases will use the developed STARR App and Decision Support System. Measurements will be performed at baseline, at 3 months, and at 6 months. Outcome measures are patient-report outcome measure of self-management competency, physical function, risk factor reduction, healthcare resource utilization, knowledge of the condition, mood, and social isolation.

DISCUSSION

If effective, the results of this study will enable stroke patients and their caregivers to deal better with the everyday life obstacles of stroke, improve the adherence of the treatment, improve the control of cardiovascular risk, and, in consequence, reduce the recurrence of secondary strokes, the number of complications, the number of consultations, and readmissions; to ultimately reduce the health systems costs. Taking into consideration that the number of stroke survivors is increasing around the world, a large number of individuals could profit from this intervention.

Clinical study of combined mirror and extracorporeal shock wave therapy on upper limb spasticity in poststroke patients

Mirror therapy is a simple, inexpensive, and patient-oriented method that has been shown to reduce phantom sensations and pain caused by amputation and improve range of motion, speed, and accuracy of arm movement and function. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a new, reversible, and noninvasive method for the treatment of spasticity after stroke. To investigate the therapeutic effect of the combination of mirror and extracorporeal shock wave therapy on upper limb spasticity in poststroke patients. We randomly assigned 120 patients into four groups: A, B, C, and D. All groups received conventional rehabilitation training for 30 min per day, five times a week, for 4 weeks. Moreover, participants in groups A, B, and C also added mirror therapy, ESWT, and a combination of mirror and ESWT, respectively, for 20 min per day. Motor recovery and spasticity were measured using Fugl–Meyer assessment and modified Ashworth scale. The differences in the Fugl–Meyer assessment and modified Ashworth scale scores in group C were significantly greater than those of group D at all observed time points after treatment and were significantly greater than those of groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed between groups A and B until 12 months. Upper extremity spasticity was improved by combined mirror and ESWT.

A discrete-choice experiment to elicit preferences of patients with epilepsy for self-management programs

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing number of self-management programs developed for patients with epilepsy, with the goal of supporting treatment management and improving their quality of life. With the aim of increasing medication adherence and effectiveness of self-management programs, it is important to design programs that are engaging to, and align with the preferences of patients with epilepsy. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the preferences of patients with epilepsy for self-management programs in three European countries. This is the first cross-border evaluation of the preferences of patients with epilepsy in Europe for such programs.

METHODS

Using a discrete-choice experiment, patients with epilepsy from Germany, France, and the Netherlands were surveyed, and chose repetitively between two hypothetical self-management programs. These differed in the following six characteristics: i) the thematic area which would be the main focus of the program, ii) the method of interaction, iii) the source of information or provider of the program, iv) the amount of time spent on the program per week, v) the cost, and vi) whether the program would start immediately, or if there would be a delay of 3weeks before its initiation. A Bayesian efficient design was used to construct 15 choice sets, and a mixed panel logit model was used to estimate patients' preferences. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to socioeconomic status, burden of disease, and previous activation in self-management.

RESULTS

A total of 299 people with epilepsy were included in the study, with a mean age of 45.5years. Only 15% had previously made use of a self-management program, although 44.5% reported having previously heard of them. In all three countries, all attributes barring the content were significant at 10%. The cost attribute - i.e., an out-of-pocket expenditure for a program - was reported as the most important feature in each country and across subgroups (significant at 1%). This was followed by the length of program sessions per week, which ranged from 20 to 90min per week. Although there was some heterogeneity between countries and subgroups, the patients, overall, had a preference for a face-to-face meeting with a doctor. In the Netherlands, a preference for online programs and physician assistants was observed when compared with the other countries. Other attributes, including the information source - whether a program was led by a physician, another patient with epilepsy, or another combination - was also important to patients, who appear willing to trade preferences in order to gain their favored attribute level. However, 20% of the population chose consistently to not participate in any self-management program.

CONCLUSION

Given the heterogeneity of the epilepsies, preferences, and dispreferences across subgroups, our study highlights that if full account is not taken of different segmentation strategies when designing a self-management program, a large proportion of the population may not be attracted to it.

Stroke survivors in Nigeria: A door-to-door prevalence survey from the Niger Delta region

The burden of stroke has been projected to increase in low-and middle-income countries due to the ongoing epidemiological transition. However, community-based stroke prevalence studies are sparse in sub-Saharan Africa particularly in Nigeria. This study aimed to provide a comparative estimate of the prevalence of stroke survivors in the rural Niger Delta region. A three-phased door-to-door survey was conducted using WHO modified instruments. In the first-phase, 2028 adults (≥18years) participants randomly selected from two rural communities were screened by trained health research assistants for probable stroke. In the second phase, suspected cases were screened with stroke-specific tool. Positive cases were made to undergo complete neurological evaluation by two study neurologist in phase-three. Stroke diagnosis was based on clinical evaluation using WHO criteria. Overall, 27 (8 first-ever and 19 recurrent cases) stroke survivors with crude prevalence of 13.31/1000 (95% CI, 8.32-18.31) and a non-significant difference in prevalence between the two study communities were found, (P=0.393I). In addition, age-adjusted prevalence of stroke survivors was 14.6/1000 person, about 7-folds higher than previous estimates outside the Niger Delta region. The prevalence increases significantly with advancing in age, P<0·001. Among others, hypertension (92.59%) was the commonest risk factor and comorbidity found. Improved stroke surveillance and care, as well as better management of the underlying risk factors, primarily undetected or uncontrolled high blood pressure, remains a public health priority.