RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors constantly feel helpless and unprepared after discharge from hospitals. More flexible and pragmatic support are needed for their optimized recovery. We examined the effects of a virtual multidisciplinary stroke care clinic on survivors' health and self-management outcomes. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Survivors were recruited from 10 hospitals and randomized at 1:1 ratio into the intervention or the control groups. Intervention group participants received the Virtual Multidisciplinary Stroke Care Clinic service (monthly online consultations with a nurse, follow-up phone calls, and access to an online platform). Control group participants received the usual care. Outcomes of self-efficacy (stroke self-efficacy questionnaire; primary), self-management behaviors (Stroke Self-Management Behaviors Performance Scale), social participation (reintegration to normal living index), and depression (Geriatric Depression Scale; secondary) were measured at baseline, and 3 and 6 months after commencing the intervention (post-randomization). A generalized estimating equations model was used to compare the differential changes in outcomes at 3 and 6 months with respect to baseline between 2 groups. RESULTS: Between July 2019 and June 2022, 335 eligible participants were enrolled in the study. Participants (intervention group; n=166) showed significantly greater improvements in outcomes of self-efficacy (group-by-time interaction regression coefficient, B=4.60 [95% CI, 0.16 to 9.05]), social participation (B=5.07 [95% CI, 0.61 to 9.53]), and depression (B=-2.33 [95% CI, -4.06 to -0.61]), and no significant improvement in performance of self-management behaviors (B=3.45, [95% CI, -0.87 to 7.77]), compared with the control group (n=169) right after the intervention (6 months after its commencement). Hedges' g effect sizes of the intervention on outcomes: 0.19 to 0.36. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide some positive evidence on the usefulness of the Virtual Multidisciplinary Stroke Care Clinic service. The effect sizes are regarded as small to medium, which may not be of clinical relevance. The baseline levels in outcomes were in favor of the control group, the intervention effects might be overestimated. The service must be tested further to determine its effectiveness. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800016101.
Assuntos
Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Humanos , Idoso , Vida Independente , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral/métodos , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapia , Autoeficácia , Sobreviventes , Qualidade de VidaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A technologically integrated, multidisciplinary approach to stroke rehabilitation service was delivered and embedded into conventional health care practice. This article reports an evaluation of cost-effectiveness analysis of a new Virtual Multidisciplinary Stroke Care Clinic (VMSCC) service for community-dwelling survivors of stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Adults with a first/recurrent ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke were recruited from 10 hospitals. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive the VMSCC service (individual virtual consultations with a registered nurse, home blood pressure telemonitoring, and unlimited access to an online resource platform) plus usual care or usual care alone. Cost-effectiveness analyses were performed based on incremental cost-effectiveness ratios expressed as incremental cost per emergency admission reduced, and day of hospitalization reduced over the study period. A total of 256 participants (intervention group n=141 versus control group n=115) with complete cost and health care use data were included in the cost-effectiveness analyses. The VMSCC service, on average, resulted in a greater reduction in the number of emergency admission (-0.06 [95% bootstrapped CI, -0.14 to 0.01]) and fewer days of hospitalization (-0.08, [95% bootstrapped CI -0.40 to 0.24]) but incurred a higher total cost of HK$375 (95% bootstrapped CI, -2103 to 2743) compared with the usual care. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of the VMSCC service compared with the usual care were HK$6070 and HK$4826 per an emergency admission and a day of hospital stay reduced respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides preliminary but not confirmative evidence that the VMSCC service could be more effective but more costly than usual care in reducing health service use. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800016101.
Assuntos
Análise Custo-Benefício , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Idoso , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral/economia , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral/métodos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vida Independente , Telemedicina/economia , Equipe de Assistência ao Paciente/economia , Resultado do Tratamento , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/economia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapia , AVC Isquêmico/economia , AVC Isquêmico/terapia , AVC Isquêmico/reabilitação , Acidente Vascular Cerebral Hemorrágico/economia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral Hemorrágico/terapia , Tempo de Internação/economia , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
PURPOSE: To understand the user expectations and the facilitators and barriers of using a virtual multidisciplinary stroke care clinic ("virtual clinic"). METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study involving two rounds of face-to-face semi-structured interviews per participant was conducted. We purposively recruited ten participants in Hong Kong who were receiving traditional stroke rehabilitation. The first interview was conducted to explore participants' expectations. The second interview was conducted after a 4-week trial of the virtual clinic. Both interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings were translated from Cantonese into English. RESULTS: Before using the virtual clinic, the participants perceived a need for (i) information communication technology guidance and support, (ii) familiar hardware and applications, and (iii) services to meet psychosocial needs. Facilitators identified by the participants included (i) feeling safe and supported, (ii) willingness to learn, adapt to, and use the new service, and (iii) ease of use with a flexible schedule. Issues relating to (i) internet connectivity, (ii) hardware, and (iii) interface and design were perceived barriers to the use of the clinic. CONCLUSION: This study provides findings of users' expectations of using telehealth services. Their perspectives on facilitators and barriers may increase the adoption of the newly developed telehealth service.Implications for rehabilitationTo implement telehealth as part of post-stroke care, it is important to ensure that stroke survivors and caregivers have the necessary information and communication technology support and infrastructure to engage in two-way interactions.Stroke survivors and caregivers may be inclined to use telehealth services due to ease of use, having flexibility in scheduling consultation sessions, do not need to travel to the clinic, useful online content, and remote blood pressure monitoring.Addressing the barriers of using telehealth services (e.g., hardware issues, internet connectivity issues, and user interface to facilitate the reading of information on the website) can improve the usability and acceptance to ensure the successful adoption of telehealth as part of post-stroke recovery.
Assuntos
Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Cuidadores/psicologia , Humanos , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/psicologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapia , Sobreviventes/psicologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The virtual multidisciplinary stroke care clinic (VMSCC) is the first nurse-led clinic developed to offer support to community-dwelling stroke survivors and caregivers, and to promote poststroke recovery. This two-arm randomised controlled trial will evaluate its effectiveness on survivors' self-efficacy (SE), survivors' and caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cost-effectiveness on emergency admissions and length of readmission hospital stay. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A consecutive sample of 384 stroke survivor-caregiver dyads will be recruited from four hospitals. An online platform that embraces readily accessible and reliable information will be developed. Participants randomly assigned to the intervention group will receive usual care plus the VMSCC service. The service includes access to a tablet containing 30 videos demonstrating appropriate self-care strategies, communication with a registered nurse monthly through video and telephone calls and regular blood pressure monitoring. Primary outcomes include survivors' SE in self-management and survivors' and caregivers' HRQoL. Secondary outcomes include survivors' performance of self-management behaviours, depression and social participation; and caregivers' coping strategies, satisfaction with caring and depression. Data will be collected at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after commencing the intervention. Survivors' and caregivers' satisfaction with the service will be assessed at 6-month follow-up. Multivariable regressions and generalised estimating equations model will be conducted. Survivors' emergency admissions and length of hospital stay will be evaluated during the 6-month follow-up period. Cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed on the average total cost incurred. DISCUSSION: The results will inform stakeholders about incorporating the VMSCC service into current stroke rehabilitation service. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol was approved by the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong-New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CREC Ref. No.: 2017.660). All participants will provide written informed consent. Results will be disseminated through scientific publications, and presentations at local and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1800016101; Pre-results.