A randomised controlled trial of a client-centred self-care intervention after stroke: a longitudinal pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Gerontology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Stroke significantly impacts daily living and self-care abilities.
• Effective interventions are needed to support stroke survivors' recovery and independence.
• Client-centred approaches may enhance self-management post-stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a client-centred self-care intervention (CCSCI) study design in stroke survivors.
• To evaluate the effects of CCSCI on activities of daily living (ADL) up to 12 months.
• To examine the impact of CCSCI on informal care, home help services, and caregiver burden.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled pilot study comparing CCSCI with ordinary training.
• Forty stroke individuals were recruited into intervention (n=19) and control (n=21) groups.
• Data on ADL, service use, and caregiver burden were collected at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• 24 participants completed the 12-month follow-up (10 in IG, 14 in CG).
• No significant differences were found between groups in ADL, service use, or caregiver burden at 12 months.
• Both groups showed significant improvements, with 80% in the intervention group and 71% in the control group achieving clinically important improvements.

Conclusions:

• The CCSCI shows promise for restoring self-care post-stroke, despite small sample size and dropouts.
• Study design and methods are suitable for a larger randomized controlled trial with modifications.
• Further research with a larger sample is warranted to confirm the efficacy of CCSCI.