Implementing inclusive online psychological support after stroke: professional stakeholder views from a qualitative...

Emotional difficulties post-stroke are common, particularly among people from minoritised ethnic communities or with aphasia, an acquired communication disorder. However, there is a shortage of supportive evidence-based interventions, and of clinical psychologists to deliver them at scale. Wellbeing After Stroke-2 (WAterS-2) is a novel, online, group psychotherapy intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It was designed to support post-stroke psychological adjustment, delivered by a trained non-psychologist workforce to increase potential reach. To guide equitable implementation of such interventions into routine stroke care, this study explored barriers and facilitators from the perspectives of key stakeholders: healthcare commissioners, managers, and frontline clinicians.

Qualitative, semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted online with purposively recruited healthcare professionals involved in commissioning, managing, or delivering stroke care in England. The qualitative interview schedule was informed by both the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and Normalisation Process Theory (NPT), while the subsequent thematic template analysis was primarily guided by CFIR to explore contextual factors and practical strategies for equitable implementation.

Fourteen interviews were conducted (Feb-April 2024), with commissioning managers (n = 8), service managers (n = 4), and clinicians (n = 2). Analyses suggested three themes around the barriers and facilitators likely to influence equitable implementation: (1) Quality of Care vs. Quality of Cash Flow - highlighting a tension between tailoring for inclusion and demonstrating clinical- and cost-effectiveness; (2) Time & Leadership - highlighting a need for leadership to prioritise time investment in equity efforts; (3) Postcode Lottery - highlighting existing variation in local infrastructure, with third-sector partnerships suggested as key enablers.

Equitable implementation of online psychological support requires balancing the diverse needs of stroke survivors and the constraints of a publicly funded healthcare system. Recommended actions to enable equity provide useful insights for the development, implementation and commissioning of online mental health interventions for stroke survivors. Strategies such as embedding interventions within existing workflows, securing leadership support, and forming partnerships with community organisations may help translate online support like WAterS-2 into routine care.