The delivery of the ReWork-Stroke program: A process evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation science
• Occupational therapy
• Stroke recovery

Background:

• The ReWork-Stroke program addresses the need for person-centered rehabilitation to facilitate return to work post-stroke.
• Occupational therapists (OTs) are central providers of this specialized program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the implementation process of the ReWork-Stroke program.
• To identify mechanisms of impact and contextual factors influencing program delivery.
• To understand how the program facilitates return to work after stroke.

Main Methods:

• A case study design was employed for in-depth analysis.
• Data collection involved interviews with two ReWork-Stroke providers and logbooks from 13 clients.
• Content analysis was used to interpret the collected data.

Main Results:

• The ReWork-Stroke program demonstrated flexibility in duration (12-48 weeks) and adherence to planned components.
• Interventions were primarily delivered at the client's workplace.
• Key impact mechanisms included strong client alliances, workplace-based interventions, stroke education, peer support (co-workers as tutors), and stakeholder collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The ReWork-Stroke program is a feasible, person-centered, and flexible rehabilitation model.
• Successful implementation relies on stakeholder collaboration, coordinated by OTs, with a focus on workplace actions and recognizing existing work abilities.
• Future development should incorporate structured evaluation and technological support for stakeholders.