Expectations Following a Minor Stroke or TIA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Expectations and Experiences Following minor stroke or a Transient Ischemic Attack
IRAS ID
143737
Contact name
Lucy Dickinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
There is evidence to suggest that expectations about one’s health can affect health outcomes. The placebo and nocebo effects, where patients in the control arm of clinical trials experience positive or negative effects from placebos, has been well documented (Amanzio, Benedetti and Vase, 2012). In addition, research using experimentally induced pain has provided evidence that manipulation of expectations can increase or decrease pain ratings under laboratory conditions (see (Benedetti, Pollo, & Colloca, 2007) for a review). However, there is little evidence concerning how expectations might affect outcomes in patient populations.
There is some limited evidence to suggest that expectations may affect functional outcomes in people who have had surgery for back problems (e.g. Ronnberg et al 2007); pain severity in chronic pain patients (e.g. Boersma and Linton, 2006); efficacy and side-effects of treatments (e.g. Mondaini et al, 2007).
This study aims to investigate whether expectations affect health outcomes in people who have had a minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). People who have had a TIA or minor stroke are traditionally thought to be asymptomatic or have minor non-disabling symptoms; however, this view is now being challenged (e.g. Winward, Sackley, Metha and Rothwell, 2009; Coutts et al., 2012). Risk factors for people who experience residual symptoms need to be identified, so that these can be managed effectively.
Quantitative Study:
N=160 patients will be recruited and visited at home by the researcher. Participants will be asked to complete a number of standardised questionnaires as well as a health expectations questionnaire developed for this study. The same questionnaires will be administered again at four months over the phone.A sub-section of n=10 patients will be invited to take part in qualitative interviews which will be administered at baseline and four months.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0054
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion