Stakeholders' Experiences Using Videoconferencing for a Group-Based Stroke Intervention During COVID-19: A Thematic Analysis.

IMPORTANCE: Guidance is limited for training protocols that support stakeholders who are new to participating in telerehabilitation interventions using videoconferencing software. OBJECTIVE: To explore stakeholders' experiences participating in a group-based intervention during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using a videoconferencing software (Zoom). DESIGN: Ad hoc exploratory thematic analysis. SETTING: Community-based telerehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: Stakeholders included group members (n = 8) who were low-income adults with chronic stroke (≥3 mo) and mild to moderate disability (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤ 16), group leaders (n = 4), and study staff (n = 4). INTERVENTION: Group-based intervention, ENGAGE, delivered using videoconferencing technology. ENGAGE blends social learning and guided discovery to facilitate community and social participation. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Semistructured interviews. RESULTS: Stakeholders included group members (ages 26-81 yr), group leaders (ages 32-71 yr), and study staff (ages 23-55 yr). Group members characterized ENGAGE as learning, doing, and connecting with others who shared their experience. Stakeholders identified social advantages and disadvantages to the videoconferencing environment. Attitudes toward technology, past technology experiences, the amount of time allotted for training, group size, physical environments, navigation of technology disruptions, and design of the intervention workbook were facilitators for some and barriers for others. Social support facilitated technology access and intervention engagement. Stakeholders recommended training structure and content. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Tailored training protocols may support stakeholders who are participating in telerehabilitation interventions using new software or devices. Future studies that identify specific tailoring variables will advance the development of telerehabilitation training protocols. What This Article Adds: These findings provide stakeholder-identified barriers and facilitators, in addition to stakeholder-informed recommendations, for technology training protocols that may support uptake of telerehabilitation in occupational therapy.

Stroke Factors Associated with Thrombolysis Use in Hospitals in Singapore and US: A Cross-Registry Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to describe and compare the characteristics of 2 stroke populations in Singapore and in St. Louis, USA, and to document thrombolysis rates and contrast factors associated with its uptake in both populations. METHODS: The stroke populations described were from the Singapore Stroke Registry (SSR) in -Singapore and the Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Group Stroke Registry (CRRGSR) in St. Louis, MO, USA. The registries were compared in terms of demographics and stroke risk factor history. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with thrombolysis uptake. RESULTS: A total of 39,323 and 8,106 episodes were recorded in SSR and CRRGSR, respectively, from 2005 to 2012. Compared to CRRGSR, patients in SSR were older, male, and from the ethnic majority. Thrombolysis rates in SSR and CRRGSR were 2.5 and 8.2%, respectively, for the study period. History of ischemic heart disease or atrial fibrillation was associated with increased uptake in both populations, while history of stroke was associated with lower uptake. For SSR, younger age and males were associated with increased uptake, while having a history of smoking or diabetes was associated with decreased uptake. For CRRGSR, ethnic minority status was associated with decreased uptake. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of stroke populations in Singapore and St Louis revealed distinct differences in clinicodemographics of the 2 groups. Thrombolysis uptake was driven by nonethnicity demographics in Singapore. Ethnicity was the only demographic driver of uptake in the CRRGSR population, highlighting the need to target ethnic minorities in increasing access to thrombolysis.

Cognitive, Emotional, and Physical Functioning as Predictors of Paid Employment in People With Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine demographic, cognitive, emotional, and physical factors that predict return to paid employment for people after neurological injury. METHOD: Four hundred eighty adults with stroke (n = 149), traumatic brain injury (n = 155), and spinal cord injury (n = 176) completed an occupational outcome questionnaire and physical, emotional, and cognitive assessments at three rehabilitation facilities. RESULTS: Odds of employment were predicted by being married or partnered, having more education, requiring fewer prompts for task sequencing, and having higher inhibitory control (but were not predicted by specific type of injury). Participants who returned to work within 3 mo were more likely to work with the same employer and to take a full-time position than those who returned later. CONCLUSION: Executive functioning, in particular sequencing and inhibitory control, strongly predicts employment and highlights the importance of cognitive strategy training during occupational therapy with people who have sustained neurological injuries.

Relationships between environmental factors and participation in adults with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spinal cord injury: a cross-sectional multi-center study.

PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate a model of environmental factors-participation relationships for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and spinal cord injury (SCI), and test whether this model differed across three diagnostic groups, as well as other demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study included 545 community-dwelling adults with neurological disorders (TBI = 166; stroke = 189; SCI = 190) recruited at three academic medical centers. Participants completed patient-reported measures of environmental factors and participation. RESULTS: The final structural equation model had acceptable fit to the data (CFI = 0.923; TLI = 0.898; RMSEA = 0.085; SRMR = 0.053), explaining 63% of the variance in participation in social roles and activities. Systems, services, and policies had an indirect influence on participation and this relation was mediated by social attitudes and the built and natural environment. Access to information and technology was associated with the built and natural environment which in turn influence on participation (ps < 0.001). The model was consistent across sex, diagnosis, severity/type of injury, education, race, age, marital status, years since injury, wheelchairs use, insurance coverage, personal or household income, and crystallized cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Social and physical environments appear to mediate the influence of systems, services, and policies on participation after acquired neurological disorders. These relations are stable across three diagnostic groups and many personal and clinical factors. Our findings inform health and disability policy, and provide guidance for implementing the initiatives in Healthy People 2020 in particular for people with acquired neurological disorders.

Using Alice 2.0 to Design Games for People with Stroke.

Computer and videogames are gaining in popularity as rehabilitation tools. Unfortunately, most systems still require extensive programming/engineering knowledge to create, something that therapists, as novice programmers, do not possess. There is software designed to allow novice programmers to create storyboard and games through simple drag-and-drop formats; however, the applications for therapeutic game development have not been studied. The purpose of this study was to have an occupational therapy (OT) student with no prior computer programming experience learn how to create computer games for persons with stroke using Alice 2.0, a drag-and-drop editor, designed by Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA). The OT student learned how to use Alice 2.0 through a textbook, tutorials, and assistance from computer science students. She kept a journal of her process, detailing her successes and challenges. The OT student created three games for people with stroke using Alice 2.0. She found that although there were many supports in Alice for creating stories, it lacked critical pieces necessary for game design. Her recommendations for a future programming environment for therapists were that it (1) be efficient, (2) include basic game design pieces so therapists do not have to create them, (3) provide technical support, and (4) be simple. With the incorporation of these recommendations, a future programming environment for therapists will be an effective tool for therapeutic game development.

Cognitive, visual, auditory, and emotional factors that affect participation in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changes in hearing, cognition, depression, and vision affect daily life participation and whether screening tests that identify problems could be used in the home. METHOD: Interviewers assessed presence of medical conditions, social class, distance acuity, cognition, hearing, depression, and participation using valid screening tools. Participation scores were subgrouped according to negative or positive results. Multiple regression analysis determined association of screening tests with participation. RESULTS: Eighty-eight older adults, ages 62-90, participated. Positive screening tests were found in 43% of participants for distance acuity, 9% for cognitive problems, 8% for depression, and 15% for hearing loss. Relationships were found among age, cognition, depression, and vision and participation. CONCLUSION: Mild levels of decreased vision, depression, and decreased cognition are associated with lower participation. These conditions can be screened by occupational therapists and managed to help older adults remain active and maintain their health.

Commentary.

Leadership in education is needed to ensure that the American Occupational Therapy Association's 2017 vision is achieved. Education prepares tomorrow's leaders. Ultimately, the profession needs to commit to developing leaders in practice, research and education to move our profession forward.