My MAPS: incorporating personal and social factors to increase physical activity after stroke: a co-design study

Engaging in meaningful social and community activities may be an option for promoting sustainable post-stroke physical activity participation. This research aimed to co-design an intervention to help people re-engage in meaningful activities and lead an active life after stroke.

A four-stage co-design methodology using an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach was used to design a post-stroke intervention and resources: Stage one: research team planning, stage two: knowledge-user content development, stage three: research team intervention and resource development, stage four: knowledge-user review and research team adaptation and finalisation. The research team included four clinical researchers with expertise in stroke and/or physical activity, two stroke clinicians, and one stroke survivor. Knowledge-user informants were recruited to participate (Stages 2 and 4) and included eight stroke survivors (four female), median age 67 years (IQR 55-74); and 11 health professionals (10 allied-health and one registered nurse).

An intervention and resources aiming to facilitate physical activity was successfully developed. It comprises a patient-facing booklet (including secondary-stroke prevention education, structured meaningful activity identification, and goal setting) and a health professional resource (including education, upskilling information, and resources).

This study successfully co-designed an intervention and resources which are ready for feasibility and acceptability testing.