Evaluation of Stroke Patient Screening

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Background and Rationale: Traditionally, stroke rehabilitation studies have been performed in stroke patients beyond the first one to three months poststroke [Stinear et al. 2013; Veerbeek et al. 2014]. Acknowledging that early stroke rehabilitation should be initiated soon after stroke onset to optimize stroke outcomes, it is has been stressed that stroke rehabilitation trials should be initiated within the first month [Stinear 2013]. Early stroke rehabilitation trials face difficulties regarding patient recruitment with corresponding low enrollment rates [AVERT 2015; Winters 2015]. Explanations are for example priority given to (sub)acute medical interventions, highly dynamic situation at a stroke unit, and a more rapid change in patients' abilities when compared to patients in later stages poststroke. With the low enrollment rates ( 7%), the generalizability of study results is questionable. Participant screening methods and procedures for research eligibility are part of the patient selection and recruitment process in clinical trials. However, no information is available regarding screening procedures and methods for these early initiated stroke rehabilitation trials, including reasons for not enrolling patients. This knowledge is essential to improve screening procedures and methods, in order to optimize patient enrollment and with that, increase the generalizability of study results. Objective: The objective of this project is to evaluate screening methods and procedures for stroke rehabilitation research. Study Design: Observational study

Detailed Description
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Objective: The objective of this project is to evaluate screening methods and procedures for stroke rehabilitation research in the Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich. Outcome: Enrollment rates (defined as the number of patients enrolled per month of recruitment), reasons for non-enrollment, and estimated costs for screening for early stroke rehabilitation studies. Study Design: Observational study

Official Title
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Evaluation of Stroke Patient Screening in an Acute Stroke Setting

Conditions
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Stroke, Acute

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: First-ever unilateral ischemic stroke <48 hours, confirmed by MRI-DWI and/or CT Age 18 years or older Able to follow one-staged commands NIHSS arm score ≥1 Informed consent after participants' information Exclusion Criteria: Modified Rankin Scale score >2 before stroke Neurological or other diseases affecting the upper limb(s) before stroke Intravenous line in the upper limb(s) which limits assessment Contra-indications on ethical grounds Expected or known non-compliance to participate in the observational study, severe drug or/and alcohol abuse

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reasons why participants are not eligible for an early rehabilitation trial | The reasons for non-enrollment will be measured by counting, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the aRISE study | 1 Day | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enrolment rate | Defined as the number of patients enrolled per month of screening | 1 Month | 
| Estimated personnel expenses in Swiss Francs for screening | Swiss Francs associated with screening in the hospital | 1 Month | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Rehabilitation, Screening, Enrollment