Understanding and developing Post-Stroke Fatigue management
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Post-Stroke Fatigue and development of a management strategy
IRAS ID
251665
Contact name
Karen Thomas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Worldwide, stroke caused an estimated 6.5 million deaths in 2017, with this predicted to increase to 7 to 8 million by 2030. In the United Kingdom it is the third most common cause of death and leading cause of disability. Long term post stroke care remains suboptimal with the National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke including only 5 out of 157 guidelines targeting longer term social and rehabilitation management. Stroke survivors living in the community often report several unmet clinical and social needs including post-stroke fatigue. There are currently no clear management or assessment recommendations and only one sparsely used case definition. The primary aim of this research study is to improve understanding and management of post-stroke fatigue.
To do this, the study will consist of two phases. In the first phase, stroke survivors and supporters will be invited to share their experiences living with fatigue through utilisation of semi-structured interviews. Supporters of individuals with chronic conditions strongly influence adjustment, management and adherence to treatment regimes and so are important to consider when developing new health care interventions. In phase 2 the research team will carry out focus group discussions with healthcare professionals working with stroke survivors. There is a paucity of research investigating clinical practice and to develop an acceptable feasible management intervention it is vital to understand and investigate current clinical care. The two phases will help the research team to consider what stroke survivors, their supporters and healthcare professionals believe a management intervention should consist of, how individuals make sense of the fatigue and what barriers are being faced within current clinical management.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
18/WS/0164
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion