A qualitative study of stroke Early Supported Discharge v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Coming home from hospital after a stroke: experiences of Early Supported Discharge rehabilitation.
IRAS ID
178586
Contact name
Julia Mardo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Stroke Early Supported Discharge (ESD) is the delivery of intensive rehabilitation in the person with stroke’s own home after leaving hospital, and is an increasingly common part of the stroke rehabilitation pathway. For people with stroke, recovery and adjustment involves undertaking ‘biographical work’; that is, the redefining of their life story and identity. It is not clear to what degree this is acknowledged or supported by ESD.
This study aims to explore the importance of biographical work during ESD for people with stroke, and their healthcare workers (HCWs), with the purpose of improving future practice. The study will use a multiple case study methodology, working with 2 ESD teams/sites. Participants will include the HCWs working within each ESD team (≤ 30 participants total), and up to 9 people with stroke at each site (≤ 18 in total). Where the person with stroke has a carer who is likely to be present for their rehabilitation sessions, this carer will also be recruited to the study (≤ 18 carers in total). Data will be collected through:
- Observation of 1-2 rehabilitation sessions for each person with stroke, involving their carer where appropriate (≤ 9 observations at each site, ≤ 18 total)
- Audio-taped in-depth face-to-face interviews with each person with stroke, of up to 90 minutes length (≤ 18 interviews total). This will normally be without a carer present, unless the person with stroke requests this to support with communication, cognition, or another reason.
- Audio-taped focus groups for HCWs, of up to 90 minutes in length. 1-2 focus groups per site (maximum 4 in total), with up to 8 participants per group.Data will be analysed using a qualitative grounded theory approach to form a conceptual theory of the biographical work taking place during ESD, and the factors influencing this.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0008
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion