Stroke mortality audit using the Structured Judgement Review method.

Mortality data provided by the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme demonstrated the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) to have a higher than national average mortality ratio.1 In response to this, the RCHT stroke department undertook a mortality review of patients admitted with stroke making use of the Structured Judgement Review (SJR) process.2The review found all patients were deemed as receiving adequate, good or excellent care. There were no cases where death was deemed as definitely avoidable. The team found the SJR to be a useful, validated tool for mortality review though recognised specific limitations to its use and wider limitations within our review process. Focused areas for improvement derived from the review included improving compliance with local palliative care guides, improved documentation, links with primary care via Care Quality Commission atrial fibrillation group and consideration of improved scanning facilities. We also acknowledged wider unaccounted factors which may impact stroke mortality and thus influence perceived mortality ratios.

Does the use of Nintendo Wii SportsTM improve arm function? Trial of WiiTM in Stroke: a randomized controlled trial and economics analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The Trial of Wii™ in Stroke investigated the efficacy of using the Nintendo Wii Sports™ (WiiTM) to improve affected arm function after stroke. DESIGN: Multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Home-based rehabilitation. SUBJECTS: A total of 240 participants aged 24-90 years with arm weakness following a stroke within the previous six months. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to exercise daily for six weeks using the WiiTM or arm exercises at home. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcome was change in the affected arm function at six weeks follow-up using the Action Research Arm Test. Secondary outcomes included occupational performance, quality of life, arm function at six months and a cost effectiveness analysis. RESULTS: The study was completed by 209 participants (87.1%). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of affected arm function at six weeks follow-up (mean difference -1.7, 95% CI -3.9 to 0.5, p = 0.12) and no significant difference in secondary outcomes, including occupational performance, quality of life or arm function at six months, between the two groups. No serious adverse events related to the study treatment were reported. The cost effectiveness analysis showed that the WiiTM was more expensive than arm exercises £1106 (SD 1656) vs. £730 (SD 829) (probability 0.866). CONCLUSION: The trial showed that the WiiTM was not superior to arm exercises in home-based rehabilitation for stroke survivors with arm weakness. The WiiTM was well tolerated but more expensive than arm exercises.

Participant and caregiver experience of the Nintendo Wii Sports™ after stroke: qualitative study of the trial of Wii™ in stroke (TWIST).

OBJECTIVE: To understand stroke survivors and their caregivers' experience and acceptability of using the Nintendo Wii Sports™ games (Wii™) as a home-based arm rehabilitation tool. DESIGN: A qualitative study within a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of using the Wii™ for arm rehabilitation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. SETTINGS: Participants and carers were interviewed in their homes. SUBJECTS: Eleven male and seven female participants and 10 caregivers who were taking part in the randomized controlled trial within six months of stroke. Median age 65. INTERVENTION: All participants were using the Wii™ for arm rehabilitation. MAIN MEASURES: Semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: diligence of play, perceived effectiveness, acceptability, caregiver and social support, and the set-up and administration of the Wii™. Participants appreciated the ability to maintain a social role and manage other comorbidities around the use of the Wii™. A small number of participants found the Mii characters too childlike for adult rehabilitation. The most popular game to start the rehabilitation programme was bowling. As confidence grew, tennis was the most popular, with baseball and boxing being the least popular games. Caregivers provided some practical support and encouragement to play the Wii™. CONCLUSIONS: The Wii™ may provide an engaging and flexible form of rehabilitation with relatively high reported usage rates in a home setting. The Wii™ was acceptable to this sample of patients and their caregivers in home-based rehabilitation of the arm following stroke.

Does the use of Nintendo Wii Sports™ improve arm function and is it acceptable to patients after stroke? Publication of the Protocol of the Trial of Wii™ in Stroke - TWIST.

INTRODUCTION: Many stroke patients experience loss of arm function requiring rehabilitation, which is expensive, repetitive, and does not always translate into "real life." Nintendo Wii Sports™ (Wii™) may offer task-specific training that is repetitive and motivating. The Trial of Wii™ in Stroke (TWIST) is designed to investigate feasibility, efficacy, and acceptability using Wii™ to improve affected arm function for patients after stroke. METHOD: This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT), incorporating a qualitative study and health economics analysis that compares playing Wii™ versus arm exercises in patients receiving standard rehabilitation in a home setting within 6 months of stroke with a motor deficit of less than 5 on the MRC (Medical Research Council) scale (arm). In this study, we expect to randomize 240 participants. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome is change in affected arm function at 6 weeks follow-up in intervention and control group using the Action Research Arm Test. Secondary outcomes include occupational performance using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, quality of life using the Stroke Impact Scale, cost effectiveness analysis, and a qualitative study investigating factors that influence use of Wii™ for patients and carers. CONCLUSION: TWIST is the first UK RCT assessing the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and acceptability of Wii™ in stroke rehabilitation. The trial has been registered with ISRCTN 06807619 and UK CRN 11030. Results of the study will be published after completion of study in August 2014.

Does telephone follow-up improve blood pressure after minor stroke or TIA?

BACKGROUND: hypertension is a common risk factor for stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and there is good evidence that blood pressure (BP) control prevents recurrent stroke. We investigated whether telephone follow-up (TFU) improved risk factor management in hypertensive patients after stroke/TIA. METHODS: we conducted a randomised controlled trial and assigned hypertensive patients within 1 month of stroke or TIA to receive usual care (n = 27) or usual care plus regular TFU (n = 29). Primary outcome was the difference in 12 h ambulatory systolic BP change from baseline to 6 months (DeltaSBP) in both groups. TFU at 7 days, 1, 2 and 4 months included patient-focussed education and goal setting. RESULTS: mean baseline BP was 145/83 mm Hg (standard deviation (SD) 21/14). There was no significant difference in DeltaSBP over 6 months with TFU. Median DeltaSBP was 0 mm Hg (interquartile range 19.5) in the TFU group and 3.0 mm Hg (20) fall in the usual care group (P = 0.29). Post hoc analysis showed that statin use increased from baseline to 6 months (P = 0.02) and cholesterol was significantly lower at 6 months in all patients (mean reduction 0.95 mmol/l; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: our study found TFU that promoted patient-led management of risk factors did not improve BP control over 6-month follow-up in primary care after stroke/TIA.