Improving communication and shared decision making after severe stroke

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Developing a model to improve communication and shared decision making after a severe stroke

• IRAS ID

  203720

• Contact name

  Akila Visvanathan

• Contact email

  akila232@hotmail.com

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Edinburgh

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 11 months, 27 days

• Research summary

  Question: Can we better predict outcomes important to patients and their families after stroke which can help them make decisions about their treatments?

  Doctors find it difficult to accurately predict what the various outcomes are for patients who have had a severe stroke. Therefore, patients do not make informed choices about their treatment. Knowledge of the likeliest outcome after stroke might alter decisions made by patients and families.

  This study involves developing and testing methods to improve predictions of outcomes after a severe stroke, communicating these predictions to patients and families in a method that they would understand and seeking their feedback on how we can maximise their understanding and involvement in decision making after stroke.

  This study involves 2 parts:
  In Part 1, we will follow up approximately 400 patients who have had a severe stroke for at least 6 months. We wish to find out their outcomes (ability to walk, talk, speak, eat, be continent, live at home, free from pain, free from anxiety or depression and cognition), and perceived quality of life. This will help us predict these outcomes which we think are important to patients and their families

  A smaller number of patients (around 30-50) with very severe stroke, or their families, will as part of usual clinical care, have a meeting with a senior doctor to discuss diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options. Part 2 of this study will evaluate these meetings. Here, we will complete questionnaires and interview patients and their families immediately after the meeting and for up to 6 months to find out how we can improve the way we give them information and involve them in making decisions about their treatments.

  Therefore, this study aims to increase patient and family involvement in decisions made about treatments after severe stroke.

• REC name

  Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only

• REC reference

  17/SS/0029

• Date of REC Opinion

  27 Apr 2017

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion