Outcome evaluation by patient reported outcome measures in stroke clinical practice (EPOS) protocol for a prospective...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Stroke-related impairments significantly impact daily activities, necessitating patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for accurate assessment.
• Standardized PROMs, like those from the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement, are crucial for consistent stroke care evaluation.
• This study addresses the need to implement and evaluate standardized PROMs in a German university hospital's stroke center.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and assess the feasibility of using standardized PROMs in routine clinical practice at a German university hospital stroke center.
• To characterize the impact of stroke-related impairments on patients' everyday lives.
• To identify predictive factors associated with patient-relevant outcomes following stroke.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study enrolling 1040 patients with acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or intracerebral hemorrhage.
• Data collection includes demographics, risk factors, and follow-up assessments at 90 days and 12 months using PROMIS-10, PHQ-4, and modified Rankin Scale.
• Feasibility assessed via qualitative interviews and quantitative data quality analysis; outcomes analyzed using mixed regressions and statistical analyses.

Main Results:

• The study will provide data on the feasibility and acceptance of standardized PROMs in a clinical stroke setting.
• Characterization of stroke-related impairments in daily life based on patient reports.
• Identification of key factors predicting patient-relevant outcomes, including quality of life, depressive/anxiety symptoms, and social role participation.

Conclusions:

• The findings will establish the utility of standardized PROMs for evaluating stroke patients in routine clinical care.
• This research contributes to a better understanding of stroke recovery and informs personalized patient management.
• The study supports the integration of patient-reported outcomes into standard stroke center evaluations.