Sustained attention in the acute stages post stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sustained attention in the acute stages post stroke:Natural time course and predictive factors
IRAS ID
199184
Contact name
Jonathan/ JF Marsden
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Plymouth University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Attentional deficits have been identified as the most common cognitive problem following a stroke with approximately half of stroke survivors having difficulties in this area. Difficulties with sustained attention are associated with poorer functional outcomes, reduced mood, and reduced quality of life in the long term. Although there have been numerous longitudinal studies exploring changes in attention over time following stroke, they do not explore this within the early stages and there is limited information as to factors affecting the recovery of sustained attention. In the early stages after stroke therapy resources within a stroke unit are mainly directed to improving basic functional activities such as transferring, walking and dressing that are determine whether someone can be discharged back home or into the community setting. There are some promising rehabilitation techniques for improving attention, such as attention process training, which are recommended in the national guidelines for stroke. However, there is limited evidence to support or refute the use of cognitive rehabilitation techniques within this area in the acute and sub-acute stages post stroke. If people show a marked natural recovery of sustained attention over the first few weeks after stroke it may be that specific re-training is not warranted.
This study will investigate how sustained attention changes in 30 people over the first 3 weeks after a stroke. It will also investigate whether there are factors that could predict any changes in attention over this time. Age, gender, educational attainment, side of stroke, and stroke severity will be measured and we will test whether the change in attention over 3 weeks is related to any of these factors. Understanding the natural time course and predictive factors that influence recovery will allow therapists to target people with specific cognitive rehabilitation interventions for sustained attention in the early stages of stroke.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0410
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion