“My Life After Stroke” - a feasibility study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  “My Life After Stroke” - a feasibility study of a structured programme of support for stroke survivors living in the community.

• IRAS ID

  213022

• Contact name

  Jonathan Mant

• Sponsor organisation

  Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 10 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Background: Survivors of stroke report many long term problems. They often feel abandoned after hospital, are unhappy with follow-up care and want more information about many aspects of stroke and stroke care. “My Life After Stroke” (MLAS) has been developed with help from stroke survivors, their carers, healthcare professionals and support groups to help address these problems.

  MLAS aims to help stroke survivors and their carers be better informed about stroke, help them cope with its effects, and reduce the risk of further strokes. MLAS is part of a larger research programme developing community primary care services for stroke survivors to support them and their informal carers. The aim of this study is to test the acceptability and feasibility of MLAS for stroke survivors.

  Method: We will run up to 6 programmes each with 6-8 stroke survivors, some with carers. Participants will be recruited from 3-6 GP practices within Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland and Cambridgeshire. Participants will be invited if they have had a stroke, are willing to attend, can understand English and are not undergoing intensive rehabilitation or have other serious health problems which would affect their taking part. Participants will attend the MLAS programme, consisting of 2 individual appointments and 4 weekly group-based sessions covering topics of managing health, problem-solving, social needs and emotional issues. Two trained facilitators will run these sessions and we will observe how these sessions are run. There will be a feedback session to gain opinions about the programme from participants, their carers and facilitators to make any necessary changes.

  Analysis: Recruitment rates and attendance at the MLAS programme will be recorded. Questionnaire data will be collected on several possible outcome measures (including quality of life, self-efficacy and self-management) which would inform a future, larger randomised controlled trial.

• REC name

  West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/WM/0036

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 Feb 2017

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion