Process evaluation of the Restore4stroke Self-Management intervention 'Plan Ahead!': a stroke-specific self-management intervention

Nienke S. u Tielemans, Vera P. M. Schepers, Johanna M. A. Visser-Meily, Jolanda C. M. van Haastregt, Wendy J. M. van Veen, Haike E. van Stralen, Caroline M. van Heugten*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

211 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the self-management intervention was implemented as intended. Additionally, we studied involvement in and satisfaction with the intervention among patients, their partners and therapists. Design: Mixed method, prospective study. Setting: Outpatient facilities of hospitals/rehabilitation centres. Participants: Stroke patients, their partners and therapists from the experimental arm of the Restore4Stroke Self-Management study. Intervention: 'Plan Ahead!' is a 10-week self-management intervention for stroke patients and partners, consisting of seven two-hour group sessions. Proactive action planning, education and peer support are main elements of this intervention. Main measures: Session logs, questionnaires for therapists, patients and their partners, and focus groups. Data analysis: Qualitative data were analysed with thematic analysis supplemented by quasi-statistics. Quantitative data were reported as descriptive statistics. Results: The study sample consisted of 53 patients and 26 partners taking part in the intervention, and all therapists delivering the intervention (N = 19). At least three-quarters of the intervention sessions were attended by 33 patients and 24 partners. On a scale from 1 to 10, patients, partners and therapists rated the intervention with mean scores of 7.5 (SD1.6), 7.8 (SD. 7) and 7.4 (SD. 7), respectively. Peer support was the most frequently appreciated element for participants and therapists. The proactive action planning tool was adequately applied in 76 of the 96 sessions. Conclusion: Although the target audience was reached and both participants and therapists were satisfied with the intervention, the proactive action planning tool that distinguishes the current intervention from existing stroke-specific self-management interventions was only partly implemented according to protocol.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1175-1185
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Rehabilitation
Volume30
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2016

Keywords

  • Implementation
  • mixed methods
  • therapists
  • participants
  • self-management
  • process evaluation

Cite this