TASK feasibility trial

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Treating Anxiety after StroKe (TASK)—feasibility randomized controlled trial

  • IRAS ID

    228995

  • Contact name

    Ho-Yan Yvonne Chun

  • Contact email

    hchun@exseed.ed.ac.uk

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 17 days

  • Research summary

    Why?
    The TASK study is a research study comparing two web-based treatments for anxiety after stroke.
    Anxiety problems afters stroke are disabling and affect around a quarter of stroke survivors. Difficulty accessing psychological care after stroke is a well-recognized problem.
    Based on over 200 interviews of stroke survivors in our recent study, and current evidence on how best to treat anxiety, we designed the TASK anxiety treatments.
    We first need to identify if any practical problems arise from our TASK treatments in a small clinical trial setting of stroke and TIA patients.
    Our TASK treatments are designed to be delivered remotely, via a website and telephone guidance. If implemented in the future, this approach can make it possible to treat the large number of stroke survivors (2000-3000 patients in Scotland per year), treat people who cannot leave their house, or those who live in areas where clinical psychology services are inadequate.

    What?
    In this TASK feasibility randomized controlled trial, we are trying to identify practical problems in:
    i) carrying out a web-based clinical trial design
    ii) delivering the TASK treatments remotely using the web and telephone
    and to identify iii) any unwanted effects arising from our TASK treatments.
    In addition, we would like to see if it is practical and possible for some participants to wear an ‘activity monitor’ (GeneActiv device) on their wrist during the study period. This device can potentially be used as a way of measuring study outcomes, replacing the need for questionnaires in a large-scale clinical trial setting in the future.
    Who?
    to be eligible potential participants need to
    -have a diagnosis of stroke or mini-stroke (TIA)
    -be at least 1 month since discharge from the hospital or clinic to the community
    -have internet access (via computer/ tablet)
    -be able to communicate in English on the telephone
    -live within Lothian
    How long?
    The study participation will last approximately 30 weeks.

  • REC name

    South East Scotland REC 02

  • REC reference

    17/SS/0143

  • Date of REC Opinion

    24 Nov 2017

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion