A process evaluation of patient care needs using the Post-Stroke Checklist: A prospective study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, necessitating effective tools to assess patient needs.
• Inpatient rehabilitation plays a crucial role in recovery, requiring accurate identification of residual impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the modified Post-Stroke Checklist (mPSC) in identifying impairments and care requirements for patients with stroke (PwS).
• To assess the feasibility of implementing the mPSC in inpatient rehabilitation and community settings.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 44 patients with stroke (PwS) in a tertiary rehabilitation facility.
• The mPSC was administered at hospital discharge (T1) and 3 months post-discharge (T2).
• Validated questionnaires, including the Clinical Functioning Information Tool (ClinFIT), assessed function and participation from admission (T0) through T2.

Main Results:

• At T1, 80% of participants reported stroke-related problems, decreasing to 60% at T2. Common issues included life after stroke, fatigue, daily activities, and mobility.
• A reduction in most mPSC items was observed from T1 to T2, except for pain and incontinence.
• Participants demonstrated significant functional improvements from T0 to T1 and T0 to T2 (p<0.001), with large effect sizes.

Conclusions:

• The modified Post-Stroke Checklist (mPSC) is a feasible tool for use in inpatient rehabilitation and community settings.
• The mPSC effectively identifies relevant stroke-related problems, enabling the facilitation of targeted interventions.
• The study highlights the mPSC's value in guiding post-stroke care and rehabilitation planning.