Title: Katie Gallacher - Measuring and Improving Treatment Burden and Patient Capacity in People with Stroke.
Funder: Stroke Association

Abstract: Background: Following a stroke, many treatments are recommended by health professionals, such as medications to prevent another stroke or physiotherapy to help limb weakness. People who have had a stroke often have other chronic illnesses and report finding it difficult to follow treatments recommended by their doctors, nurses and therapists. For example, they can feel overwhelmed by having to learn about treatments, visit the clinic, or learn how to perform tasks such as eating again. Importantly, the way that health services are designed can influence how easy it is to follow treatments, for example a lack of information from stroke doctors may cause unnecessary worry. Individuals differ in their abilities to manage their health problems, depending on factors such as how much money and family support they have, or how far they can walk. Proposed research: This project aims to develop a way of measuring the workload and potential difficulties encountered by those who have had a stroke when managing their health problems, and aims to develop and test possible solutions. It examines treatments undertaken both in hospital and at home. Firstly, individuals with stroke and health professionals will be interviewed about why potential difficulties may arise. Second, a measure will be developed. Third, this measure will be used within a group of individuals who have had a stroke to ascertain any difficulties faced when managing their health problems. Lastly, an intervention will be designed (based on previous results) that could help individuals with stroke to manage their health problems. For example, a computer programme could help the nurse at the yearly check up to find out about any difficulties being faced and the individual’s priorities. This could lead to altered treatments, such as medication delivery to the home for those struggling to make it to the chemist.

Lay abstract: Background: Following a stroke, many treatments are recommended by health professionals, such as medications to prevent another stroke or physiotherapy to help limb weakness. People who have had a stroke often have other chronic illnesses and report finding it difficult to follow treatments recommended by their doctors, nurses and therapists. For example, they can feel overwhelmed by having to learn about treatments, visit the clinic, or learn how to perform tasks such as eating again. Importantly, the way that health services are designed can influence how easy it is to follow treatments, for example a lack of information from stroke doctors may cause unnecessary worry. Individuals differ in their abilities to manage their health problems, depending on factors such as how much money and family support they have, or how far they can walk. Proposed research: This project aims to develop a way of measuring the workload and potential difficulties encountered by those who have had a stroke when managing their health problems, and aims to develop and test possible solutions. It examines treatments undertaken both in hospital and at home. Firstly, individuals with stroke and health professionals will be interviewed about why potential difficulties may arise. Second, a measure will be developed. Third, this measure will be used within a group of individuals who have had a stroke to ascertain any difficulties faced when managing their health problems. Lastly, an intervention will be designed (based on previous results) that could help individuals with stroke to manage their health problems. For example, a computer programme could help the nurse at the yearly check up to find out about any difficulties being faced and the individual’s priorities. This could lead to altered treatments, such as medication delivery to the home for those struggling to make it to the chemist.

Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: STROKE