Embedding an enriched environment in an acute stroke unit increases activity in people with stroke: a controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Healthcare Environment Design

Background:

• Acute stroke units typically offer standard care, which may not optimize patient engagement or recovery.
• Increasing patient activity is crucial for functional recovery after stroke.
• Environmental factors can significantly influence patient behavior and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an enriched environment on activity levels in acute stroke patients.
• To determine if an enriched environment reduces adverse events in this population.
• To assess the sustainability of these effects.

Main Methods:

• A controlled before-after pilot study was conducted in an Australian acute stroke unit.
• Participants included acute stroke patients during usual care, enriched environment, and sustainability periods.
• Behavioral mapping assessed patient activity; adverse events were tracked via a clinical registry.

Main Results:

• The enriched environment group showed significantly higher daily activity (71% vs. 58%) across physical, social, and cognitive domains.
• These improvements were sustained six months post-intervention.
• The enriched group experienced fewer adverse events (0.4 vs. 1.3), though serious adverse events did not differ significantly.

Conclusions:

• Implementing an enriched environment in acute stroke units effectively increases patient activity.
• This intervention shows promise in improving recovery trajectories and reducing non-serious adverse events.
• Environmental enrichment is a viable strategy for enhancing care in acute stroke settings.