Why do we need this project?
Following a stroke, many treatments are recommended by health professionals, such as medications to prevent another stroke or physiotherapy to help limb weakness.
Stroke survivors often have other chronic illnesses and report finding it difficult to follow treatments recommended by their doctors, nurses and therapists. For example, they can feel overwhelmed by having to learn about treatments, visit the clinic, or learn how to perform tasks such as eating again.
Importantly, the way that health services are designed can influence how easy it is to follow treatments. For example, a lack of information from stroke doctors may cause unnecessary worry for their patients. Individuals also differ in their abilities to manage their health problems, depending on factors such as how much money and family support they have, or how far they can walk.
What is the aim of this project?
This project aims to develop a way of measuring the workload and potential difficulties encountered by those who have had a stroke when managing their health problems and aims to develop and test possible solutions.
What will happen during the project?
The project examines treatments undertaken both in hospital and at home.
- Individuals with stroke and health professionals will be interviewed about why potential difficulties may arise.
- A measure will be developed.
- This measure will be used within a group of individuals who have had a stroke to assess any difficulties faced when managing their health problems.
- An intervention will be designed (based on previous results) that could help individuals with stroke to manage their health problems. For example, a computer programme could help the nurse at the yearly checkup to find out about any difficulties being faced and the individual’s priorities.
What is the intended outcome of the project?
It could lead to altered treatments for stroke survivors, such as medication delivery to the home for those struggling to make it to the chemist.
Dr Katie Gallacher was awarded the 'Stroke Association HRH The Princess Margaret Clinical Lectureship Award' in 2017. Rebecca is pictured below (centre) receiving her award from Lady Estelle Wolfson and Professor Sir Mark Walport at our 2017 Keynote Lecture.
