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Cognitive Function and Upper Limb Rehabilitation Training Post-Stroke Using a Digital Occupational Training System
Published on: December 29, 2023
A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial of structured goal-setting following stroke
William J Taylor1, Melanie Brown, Levack William
1Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, New Zealand. will.taylor@otago.ac.nz
Clinical Rehabilitation
|October 7, 2011
Summary
A pilot study found that a cluster randomized design is not feasible for inpatient rehabilitation goal-setting research. High variance and intraclass correlation necessitate alternative methods to manage contamination effects.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Clinical Trial Design
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Structured goal-setting is crucial for effective inpatient rehabilitation.
- Pilot studies are essential to assess the feasibility of novel research designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a structured goal-setting approach in inpatient rehabilitation.
- To determine the cluster design effect, variance, and minimal clinically important difference for primary outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
- Participants admitted post-stroke with sufficient cognition were included.
- The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure guided structured goal elicitation.
Main Results:
- High intraclass correlation values (0.03-0.40) and significant variance in the Schedule for Individualised Quality of Life (SEIQOL-DW) were observed.
- The observed variance relative to the minimal important difference indicated impractically large sample size requirements for a cluster randomized design.
Conclusions:
- A cluster randomized design is impractical for studying inpatient rehabilitation goal-setting due to contamination effects.
- Alternative strategies are needed to mitigate contamination in such research.
