Upper limb rehabilitation after stroke: quality of life investigation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A mixed-methods investigation of an innovative upper limb rehabilitation programme: quality of life changes of stroke survivors
IRAS ID
238416
Contact name
Jill Francis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City, University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
3683, Research Registry
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 14 days
Research summary
Stroke is the third largest cause of disability in the UK and about three-quarters of stroke survivors have an arm disability after a stroke. Stroke survivors have been found in research to have a lower quality of life compared to other groups. Despite its common occurrence, there is limited knowledge about the impact of arm disability on quality of life. In addition, little is known about recovery of the arm after stroke from a stroke survivors' perspective and the influence of social factors and individual thoughts, emotions and behaviour on recovery.
The proposed study has two main aims: first, to investigate quality of life in a sample of stroke survivors who have completed an innovative three-week specialist arm rehabilitation programme. For this purpose, a service evaluation will be completed using quality of life scores, which are routinely measured on a questionnaire before the block of rehabilitation, immediately afterwards and six weeks and six months later, and see how this may be affected by other measures. The second aim is to interview some of these participants to further investigate social and psychological factors that may have influenced their arm recovery and quality of life after stroke.
The study is considered to be low risk to both the researcher and stroke survivors, as it involves analysis of de-identified existing data as well as planned one to one interviews. Participation in the interviews will be entirely optional. All information gained within the interviews will be completely anonymised.
It is anticipated that identifying specific psychological and social influences on upper limb rehabilitation will provide a greater understanding of areas that clinicians may need to target. This may allow more tailoring of interventions, adherence and response to upper limb rehabilitation as well as overall quality of life. This will help to inform future stroke upper limb rehabilitation.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NE/0101
Date of REC Opinion
19 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion