Title: Stroke Association HRH The Princess Margaret Clinical Lectureship - Optimising stroke survivor recovery through effective goal setting practice in community based rehabilitation settings: implementing research to enhance practice and improve outcomes
Funder: Stroke Association

Abstract: SCIENTIFIC: Background: Community rehabilitation should be effective and responsive to stroke survivors’ personal goals. Goal setting practice is highly variable and carried out in the absence of high quality evidence to demonstrate its effectiveness. An evidence based Goal setting and Action Planning (G-AP) framework (pilot training programme and stroke survivor held record) was developed to enhance patient-centred goal setting practice and stroke survivor recovery. Aims: I aim to 1. optimise G-AP in line with the findings of a recent evaluation (this will involve: understanding of the regulatory function of goal non-attainment; improving the functionality of G-AP online training, developing an app version of the G-AP record and an accessible version for stroke survivors with communication difficulties) 2. develop a flexible G-AP implementation protocol and 3. evaluate the effectiveness of G-AP. Methods: A series of inter-related studies will be conducted involving development work, qualitative and quantitative methodologies and a research visit to four Australian centres of excellence in stroke rehabilitation research. Impacts: This research programme will (i) produce freely available G-AP training resources and G-AP record options (ii) inform the effective management of goal non-attainment and (iii) develop evidence effectiveness of G-AP in practice to optimise stroke survivor recovery and wellbeing. Lay title: Enhancing stroke survivor recovery through effective goal setting in community rehabilitation. LAY: Background: People who have had a stroke (stroke survivors) often have very individual hopes for the future (goals) they would like to achieve. Rehabilitation in the community aims to help stroke survivors meet these personal goals. A Goal setting and Action Planning (G-AP) framework has been developed to help stroke survivors and their community rehabilitation teams to work together to agree on, and work towards, important rehabilitation goals. A G-AP record has been developed for stroke survivors to record their personal goals and plans. Aims: This research programme aims to (i) understand how stroke survivors can be supported through the process of working towards their personal goals, especially if achieving a goal is proving difficult (ii) develop different versions of the G-AP record to suit stroke survivors individual preferences and abilities (iii) develop a flexible way of using G-AP so as it can be used in the different teams that provide community rehabilitation and (iv) find out if G-AP makes a positive difference to stroke survivors’ recovery and the community rehabilitation they receive. Methods: A series of different research studies are planned to meet these aims. Stroke survivors and /or rehabilitation staff will be asked their opinion about each study to make sure it fits with what they think is important. Researchers with the right skills will plan and carry out individual studies so as they are completed to the highest standard. Impacts: Stroke survivors want rehabilitation to help them re-build their lives after stroke. This will be different for each person. My research will support stroke survivors and rehabilitation staff to work together to set and work towards goals that will help with this re-building process, and how to manage if this is proving difficult. This will help stroke survivors achieve the best possible recovery following their stroke.

Lay abstract: SCIENTIFIC: Background: Community rehabilitation should be effective and responsive to stroke survivors’ personal goals. Goal setting practice is highly variable and carried out in the absence of high quality evidence to demonstrate its effectiveness. An evidence based Goal setting and Action Planning (G-AP) framework (pilot training programme and stroke survivor held record) was developed to enhance patient-centred goal setting practice and stroke survivor recovery. Aims: I aim to 1. optimise G-AP in line with the findings of a recent evaluation (this will involve: understanding of the regulatory function of goal non-attainment; improving the functionality of G-AP online training, developing an app version of the G-AP record and an accessible version for stroke survivors with communication difficulties) 2. develop a flexible G-AP implementation protocol and 3. evaluate the effectiveness of G-AP. Methods: A series of inter-related studies will be conducted involving development work, qualitative and quantitative methodologies and a research visit to four Australian centres of excellence in stroke rehabilitation research. Impacts: This research programme will (i) produce freely available G-AP training resources and G-AP record options (ii) inform the effective management of goal non-attainment and (iii) develop evidence effectiveness of G-AP in practice to optimise stroke survivor recovery and wellbeing. Lay title: Enhancing stroke survivor recovery through effective goal setting in community rehabilitation. LAY: Background: People who have had a stroke (stroke survivors) often have very individual hopes for the future (goals) they would like to achieve. Rehabilitation in the community aims to help stroke survivors meet these personal goals. A Goal setting and Action Planning (G-AP) framework has been developed to help stroke survivors and their community rehabilitation teams to work together to agree on, and work towards, important rehabilitation goals. A G-AP record has been developed for stroke survivors to record their personal goals and plans. Aims: This research programme aims to (i) understand how stroke survivors can be supported through the process of working towards their personal goals, especially if achieving a goal is proving difficult (ii) develop different versions of the G-AP record to suit stroke survivors individual preferences and abilities (iii) develop a flexible way of using G-AP so as it can be used in the different teams that provide community rehabilitation and (iv) find out if G-AP makes a positive difference to stroke survivors’ recovery and the community rehabilitation they receive. Methods: A series of different research studies are planned to meet these aims. Stroke survivors and /or rehabilitation staff will be asked their opinion about each study to make sure it fits with what they think is important. Researchers with the right skills will plan and carry out individual studies so as they are completed to the highest standard. Impacts: Stroke survivors want rehabilitation to help them re-build their lives after stroke. This will be different for each person. My research will support stroke survivors and rehabilitation staff to work together to set and work towards goals that will help with this re-building process, and how to manage if this is proving difficult. This will help stroke survivors achieve the best possible recovery following their stroke.

Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: STROKE