Priorities for developing stroke care in Ireland from the perspectives of stroke survivors, family carers and professionals involved in stroke care: A mixed methods study.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing numbers of people are living with stroke, due to population ageing and improved survival, leading to a need for evidence to inform future policy decision-making. This study aimed to engage with stakeholders in Ireland to identify priorities for stroke services development. METHODS: A sequential mixed methods design was used. Phase 1 (qualitative) was exploratory, involving initial priority gathering via an online qualitative survey and interviews, with stroke survivors, family/main carers, and professionals working in stroke care. Framework analysis was used to generate a long-list of improvements to stroke services. Phase 2 involved a quantitative survey, where stakeholders selected five priority improvements from the long-list. Results were discussed in a stakeholder meeting. RESULTS: In-depth interviews were completed with 18 survivors, 13 carers and 8 professionals, while 80 professionals took part in a qualitative survey (phase 1). Priority areas of care were identified and a long-list of 45 priority improvements was generated. In phase 2, 34 survivors, 19 family carers and 42 professionals completed a survey. The highest priority improvements (selected by >20% of respondents) were access to specialist neuro-rehabilitation, ongoing support for life after stroke, recruitment/retention of specialist staff, improved information and support for health system navigation, and access to specialist acute care. Stroke survivors/carers prioritised exploring ways to improve access for strokes with atypical presentation, while professionals prioritised specialist inpatient rehabilitation and early supported discharge. Neither group prioritised stroke prevention. Based on discussions in the stakeholder meeting (n = 12), it was decided that support for mental health should also be included as a priority. DISCUSSION: The development of stroke services benefits from exploring the priorities of those receiving and delivering stroke care. Findings emphasise the need for equitable access to high quality adequately-staffed services, particularly post-discharge, that are easy to navigate, with good communication, and effective information provision.

"Coming home was a disaster, I didn't know what was going to happen": a qualitative study of survivors' and family members' experiences of navigating care post-stroke.

PURPOSE: Understanding navigational barriers and facilitators has the potential to advance equitable stroke care delivery. The aim of this study was to explore, using a qualitative study, the experiences of stroke survivors and their families as they journey through the stroke care system, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 stroke survivors and 12 family members during 2021 and 2022. Participants were recruited through voluntary organisations, social media, and stroke support groups. Data analysis followed a systematic process guided by the framework method with steps including familiarisation, coding, framework development, and charting and interpretation. RESULTS: The experiences of navigating stroke care were particularly challenging following discharge from hospital into the community. Barriers to stroke care continuity included insufficient appropriate services and information, unsatisfactory relationships with healthcare professionals and distressed mental health. There were particular navigational challenges for survivors with aphasia. Facilitators to effective navigation included having prior knowledge of the health system, harnessing support for care co-ordination, and being persistent. CONCLUSION: Greater support for patient navigation, and person-centred referral pathways, particularly during times of increased pressure on the system, have the potential to improve access to services and wellbeing among stroke survivors.

Interactions between practitioners and stroke survivors need to be simple, empathetic, and transparent, using communication tools when needed for older stroke survivors or those with a communication or cognitive disabilityNavigation of the care system is a significant challenge and source of emotional distress for stroke survivors and their families, likely leading to foregone care and inequity in access to services. This indicates a need for both clearer, more standard stroke care pathways that are easier to navigate, and evidence-based patient navigation support programmes.The development of navigational interventions and stroke care pathways would benefit from co-design with motivated and knowledgeable stroke survivors.Taking advantage of the wealth of lived experience, and stroke survivors' capacity and passion for advocacy, has the potential to empower the wider stroke community.

StrokeCog Markov Model: Projected Prevalent and Incident Cases of Stroke and Poststroke Cognitive Impairment to 2035 in Ireland.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia are common stroke outcomes, with significant health and societal implications for aging populations. These outcomes are not included in current epidemiological models. We aimed to develop an epidemiological model to project incidence and prevalence of stroke, poststroke CIND and dementia, and life expectancy, in Ireland to 2035, informing policy and service planning. METHODS: We developed a probabilistic Markov model (the StrokeCog model) applied to the Irish population aged 40 to 89 years to 2035. Data sources included official population and hospital-episode statistics, longitudinal cohort studies, and published estimates. Key assumptions were varied in sensitivity analysis. Results were externally validated against independent sources. The model tracks poststroke progression into health states characterized by no cognitive impairment, CIND, dementia, disability, stroke recurrence, and death. RESULTS: We projected 69 051 people with prevalent stroke in Ireland in 2035 (22.0 per 1000 population [95% CI, 20.8-23.1]), with 25 274 (8.0 per 1000 population [95% CI, 7.1-9.0]) of those projected to have poststroke CIND, and 12 442 having poststroke dementia (4.0 per 1000 population [95% CI, 3.2-4.8]). We projected 8725 annual incident strokes in 2035 (2.8 per 1000 population [95% CI, 2.7-2.9]), with 3832 of these having CIND (1.2 per 1000 population [95% CI, 1.1-1.3]), and 1715 with dementia (0.5 per 1000 population [95% CI, 0.5-0.6]). Life expectancy for stroke survivors at age 50 was 23.4 years (95% CI, 22.3-24.5) for women and 20.7 (95% CI, 19.5-21.9) for men. CONCLUSIONS: This novel epidemiological model of stroke, poststroke CIND, and dementia draws on the best available evidence. Sensitivity analysis indicated that findings were robust to assumptions, and where there was uncertainty a conservative approach was taken. The StrokeCog model is a useful tool for service planning and cost-effectiveness analysis and is available for adaptation to other national contexts.

The StrokeCog study: development and description of a cognition-focused psychological intervention to address cognitive impairment following stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of developing a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and to describe the intervention prior to evaluation in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). Method: The Medical Research Council framework, 'Developing and evaluating complex interventions', was used to develop the cognitive rehabilitation intervention. We conducted a combined analysis of the existing evidence base for PSCI rehabilitation alongside qualitative exploration of the perspectives of stroke survivors, their families, and healthcare professionals providing stroke care, on the necessary components for a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for PSCI. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist was used as a structural framework for the description of the intervention. Results: The intervention comprises a five-week intervention integrating group-based activities, supported by a clinical neuropsychologist, with home-based activities to encourage self-efficacy through the practice of adjustment and compensatory strategies learned in the group format to achieve the patients' identified goals in managing their PSCI. Conclusion: A cognitive rehabilitation intervention for patients with PSCI has been developed and described. We are in the process of developing a structured intervention manual to standardise the content and delivery of the intervention for further testing in a pilot RCT.

Development of a national stroke audit in Ireland: scoping review protocol.

Introduction Recent advances in stroke management and care have resulted in improved survival and outcomes. However, providing equitable access to acute care, rehabilitation and longer-term stroke care is challenging. Recent Irish evidence indicates variation in stroke outcomes across hospitals, and a need for continuous audit of stroke care to support quality improvement. The aim of this project is to develop a core minimum dataset for use in the new Irish National Audit of Stroke (INAS), which aims to improve the standard of stroke care in Ireland. This paper outlines the protocol for conducting a scoping review of international practice and guidelines in auditing acute and non-acute stroke care. Objective Identify data items that are currently collected by stroke audits internationally, and identify audit guidelines that exist for recommending inclusion of content in stroke audit datasets. Methods and analysis This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We will search the following databases: Medline Ovid; Embase; CINAHL EBSCOHost. Grey literature will also be searched for relevant materials, as will relevant websites. Study selection and review will be carried out independently by two researchers, with discrepancies resolved by a third. Data charting and synthesis will involve sub-dividing relevant sources of evidence, and synthesising data into three categories: i) acute stroke care; ii) non-acute stroke care; and iii) audit data collection procedures and resourcing. Data will be charted using a standardised form specific to each category. Consultation with knowledge users will be conducted at all stages of the scoping review. Discussion This scoping review will contribute to a larger project aimed at developing an internationally benchmarked stroke audit tool that will be used prospectively to collect data on all stroke admissions in Ireland, encompassing both acute and non-acute data items.

Identifying priority interventions for stroke in Ireland through stakeholder engagement to inform population-based modelling: a mixed methods protocol.

Introduction  Improvements in stroke survival have resulted in increasing numbers of people living with stroke, and with a rapidly evolving evidence-base for stroke prevention and management, there is a need for robust data and evidence to inform future policy decision-making. Population-based modelling and economic evaluation of alternative policy options is a useful tool to support decision making. However, this process must be aligned to key stakeholder priorities. The aim of the proposed research is to engage with stakeholders in Ireland to identify their priorities for the development of stroke prevention and management strategies and policies. Methods  The design is iterative, based on mixed methods. Phase 1 involves a qualitative approach for initial priority gathering, based on an open-ended online survey (target sample: 100-120) and interviews (target sample: 34-40). Stakeholders will include: 1) stroke survivors and family member/main carers, 2) healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing stroke care and 3) people working in stroke research, policy and advocacy. These data will be analysed qualitatively, with the aim of identifying a long-list of specific interventions. Phase 2 involves an interim priority-setting exercise, based on a quantitative online survey. Participants will be asked to rank the interventions on the initial long-list. These rankings will be used to inform a final priority-setting workshop (Phase 3), where a small stakeholder group will decide on the final set of priorities. Discussion  The rich and detailed quantitative and qualitative data, based on the views of diverse stakeholders, will be directly relevant to policy makers and service planners involved in developing and improving stroke care in Ireland. The information provided will also be essential to inform the Scenario and Intervention Modelling in Ireland for Stroke (SIMI-Stroke) project, a population-based economic and epidemiological modelling study aimed at identifying cost-effective interventions for stroke across the prevention, acute and post-acute care continuum.

The Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment on Admission to Nursing Home among Residents with and without Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Nursing Homes in Ireland.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common consequence of stroke. Epidemiological evidence indicates that, with an ageing population, stroke and PSCI are likely to increase in the coming decades. This may have considerable implications for the demand for nursing home placement. As prevalence estimates of both cognitive impairment and dementia on admission to nursing home among residents with and without stroke have not yet been compared, they were estimated and compared in this study. We performed a cross-sectional survey to establish the admission characteristics of 643 residents in 13 randomly selected nursing homes in Ireland. The survey collected data on resident's stroke and cognitive status at the time of nursing home admission. The survey found, among nursing home residents that experienced stroke prior to admission, prevalence estimates for cognitive impairment (83.8%; 95% CI = 76.9-90.6%) and dementia (66.7%; 95% CI = 57.9-75.4%) were significantly higher compared to residents that had not experienced stroke prior to admission (cognitive impairment: 56.6%; 95% CI = 52.4-60.8%; X2 (1) = 28.64; p < 0.001; dementia: 49.8%; 95% CI = 45.6-54.1%; X2 (1) = 10.47; p < 0.01). Since the prevalence of PSCI is likely to increase in the coming decades, the findings highlight an urgent need for health service planning for this increased demand for nursing home care to meet the care needs of these stroke survivors.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of cognitive impairment no dementia in the first year post-stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing attention is being paid to interventions for cognitive impairment (CI) post-stroke, including for CI that does not meet dementia criteria. The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) within one year post-stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pubmed, EMBASE and PsychInfo were searched for papers published in English in 1995-2017. Included studies were population or hospital-based cohort studies for first-ever/recurrent stroke, assessing CIND using standardised criteria at 1-12 months post-stroke. Abstracts were screened, followed by full text review of potentially relevant articles. Data were extracted using a standard form, and study quality was appraised using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool. A pooled prevalence of CIND with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was measured using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: A total of 7000 abstracts were screened, followed by 1028 full text articles. Twenty-three articles were included in the systematic review, and 21 in the meta-analysis. The pooled CIND prevalence was 38% [95% CI = 32-43%] (I2=92.5%, p < 0.01). Study quality emerged as one source of heterogeneity. The five studies with the highest quality scores had no heterogeneity (I2=0%, p = 0.99), with a similar pooled prevalence (39%, 95%CI = 35-42%). Other sources of heterogeneity were stroke type, inclusion of pre-stroke CI, and age at assessment time.Discussion and conclusion: Meta-analysis of available studies indicates that in the first year post-stroke, 4 in 10 patients display a level of cognitive impairment that does not meet the criteria for dementia.

Addressing cognitive impairment following stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomised controlled studies of psychological interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive impairment is a pervasive outcome of stroke, reported in over half of patients 6 months post-stroke and is associated with increased disability and a poorer quality of life. Despite the prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment, the efficacy of existing psychological interventions for the rehabilitation of cognitive impairment following stroke has yet to be established. The aim of this study is to identify psychological interventions from non-randomised studies that intended to improve post-stroke cognitive function and establish their efficacy. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomised studies of psychological interventions addressing post-stroke cognitive impairment. DATA SOURCES: Electronic searches were performed in the Pubmed, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases, the search dating from inception to February 2017. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All non-randomised controlled studies and quasi-randomised controlled trials examining psychological interventions to improve cognitive function following stroke were included, such as feasibility studies, pilot studies, experimental studies, and quasi-experimental studies. The primary outcome was cognitive function. The prespecified secondary outcomes were functional abilities in daily life and quality of life. METHODS: The current meta-analyses combined the findings of seven controlled studies, examining the efficacy of psychological interventions compared with treatment-as-usual controls or active controls, and 13 one-group pre-post studies. RESULTS: Results indicated an overall small effect on cognition across the controlled studies (Hedges' g=0.38, 95% CI=0.06 to 0.7) and a moderate effect on cognition across the one-group pre-post studies (Hedges' g=0.51, 95% CI=0.3 to 0.73). Specific cognitive domains, such as memory and attention also demonstrated a benefit of psychological interventions. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides support for the potential of psychological interventions to improve overall cognitive function post-stroke. Limitations of the study, in terms of risk of bias and quality of included studies, and future research directions are explored. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017069714.

Measuring What Matters: Achieving Consensus on a Positive Aging Indicator Set For Ireland.

The objective of this study was to measure consensus among expert stakeholders on a set of positive aging outcome indicators in Ireland. Stakeholders from academic, public, and voluntary sectors and older people participated in a 3-round, online Delphi study to evaluate indicators for participation, security, healthy aging, attitudes to aging, and information access. Evaluation criteria included: acceptability, utility, accessibility, ranking, and balance and coherence. Consensus was achieved on 56 key indicators that are aligned with action areas in the National Positive Ageing Strategy. These indicators will be reported on a biannual basis to monitor progress in positive aging in Ireland.

Poststroke Cognitive Impairment in Model-Based Economic Evaluation: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a frequent consequence of stroke and is associated with increased costs and reduced quality of life. However, its inclusion in model-based economic evaluation for stroke is limited. OBJECTIVE: To identify, review, and critically appraise current models of stroke for use in economic evaluation, and to identify applicability to modeling poststroke CI. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and the NHS Economic Evaluations Database (NHS EED) were systematically searched for papers published from January 2008 to August 2018. Studies that described the development or design of a model of stroke progression intended for use in economic evaluation were included. Abstracts were screened, followed by full text review of potentially relevant articles. Models that included CI were retained for data extraction, and among the remainder, models that included both stroke recurrence and disability were also retained. Relevance and potential for adaptation for modeling CI were assessed using a standard questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty modeling studies were identified and categorized into 4 groups: Markov disability/recurrence (k = 29); CI (k = 2); discrete event simulation (k = 4), and other (k = 5). Only 2 modeling studies included CI as an outcome, and both focused on narrow populations at risk of intracranial aneurysm. None of the models allowed for disease progression in the absence of a stroke recurrence. None of the included studies carried out any sensitivity analysis in relation to model design or structure. CONCLUSIONS: Current stroke models used in economic evaluation are not adequate to model poststroke CI or dementia, and will require adaptation to be used for this purpose.

The relationship between kidney function and quality of life among community-dwelling adults varies by age and filtration marker.

BACKGROUND: The impact of a diminished level of kidney function on the well-being of an older individual is poorly understood. We sought to determine the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and overall quality of life (QoL) among older adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 4293 participants from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, a population-based study of community-dwelling adults ≥50 years of age. We used multivariable negative binomial regression to model the relationship between categories of cystatin C eGFR (eGFRcys) or creatinine eGFR (eGFRcr) and the number of QoL deficits from the Control, Autonomy, Self-realization and Pleasure (CASP-19) scale, a holistic measure of QoL among older adults (range 0-57). We further explored this relationship across age strata. RESULTS: Median age was 61 [interquartile range (IQR) 55-68] years, 53% were female, mean (SD) CASP-19 score was 44.8 (7.4) and median eGFRcys was 81 (IQR 68-93) mL/min/1.73 m2. After multivariable adjustment, participants with eGFRcys <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 had 14% greater QoL deficits {incidence rate ratio 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.25)] relative to the reference group (eGFRcys ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). This relationship appeared linear across eGFRcys categories and was more pronounced in younger (50-64 years) compared with older participants (65-74 or ≥75 years). There was no substantive relationship between eGFRcr and CASP-19. CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin C but not creatinine eGFR was associated with clinically modest declines in QoL among a large sample of community-dwelling older adults. This relationship varied by age, suggesting that a diminished eGFR contributes little to overall QoL beyond middle age in this population.

Managing cognitive impairment following stroke: protocol for a systematic review of non-randomised controlled studies of psychological interventions.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is one of the primary causes of death and disability worldwide, leaving a considerable proportion of survivors with persistent cognitive and functional deficits. Despite the prevalence of poststroke cognitive impairment, there is no established treatment aimed at improving cognitive function following a stroke. Therefore, the aims of this systematic review are to identify psychological interventions intended to improve poststroke cognitive function and establish their efficacy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A systematic review of non-randomised controlled studies that investigated the efficacy of psychological interventions aimed at improving cognitive function in stroke survivors will be conducted. Electronic searches will be performed in the PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases, the search dating from the beginning of the index to February 2017. Reference lists of all identified relevant articles will be reviewed to identify additional studies not previously identified by the electronic search. Potential grey literature will be reviewed using Google Scholar. Titles and abstracts will be assessed for eligibility by one reviewer, with a random sample of 50% independently double-screened by second reviewers. Any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion, with referral to a third reviewer where necessary. Risk of bias will be assessed with the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool. Meta-analyses will be performed if studies are sufficiently homogeneous. This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The quality of the evidence regarding cognitive function will be assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will collect secondary data only and as such ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through presentations and peer-reviewed publication. This review will provide information on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for poststroke cognitive impairment, identifying which psychological interventions are effective for improving poststroke cognitive function. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017069714.

Hospital Readmissions - Independent Predictors of 30-day Readmissions derived from a 10 year Database.

Unplanned medical 30 day readmissions place a burden on the provision of acute hospital services and are increasingly used as quality indicators to assess quality of care in hospitals. Multivariable logistic regression of a 10 year database showed that four factors were most strongly associated with early readmission: Charlson comorbidity index >=1, respiratory disease as a principal diagnosis, liver disease and alcohol-related illness as an additional diagnosis, and the number of previous readmissions. Disease and patient-related factors beyond control of the hospital are the factors most strongly associated with 30 day readmission to hospital, suggesting that this may not be an appropriate quality indicator.

Does the EQ-5D capture the effects of physical and mental health status on life satisfaction among older people? A path analysis approach.

PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which EQ-5D utility scores capture the effect of mental and physical health status on life satisfaction (LS) in older adults. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 884 patients aged ≥70 years from 15 general practices in Ireland, including medical records, pharmacy claims, and self-completion questionnaire. Path analysis was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of: (1) chronic disease burden (based on medications data); (2) activity limitation (basic and instrumental activities of daily living); (3) anxiety symptoms and; (4) depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) on LS (Life Satisfaction Index Z), via a utility score based on responses to the EQ-5D scale. Utility scores were calculated using UK time trade-off utility weights. Covariates included age and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: The final path model fitted the data well (goodness of fit χ2 = 7.5, df (7), p = 0.37). The direct effects of chronic disease burden and disability on LS were not statistically significant and were excluded from the final model, indicating that EQ-5D score mediated 100% of the total effect on LS. The direct and indirect effects of anxiety and depression on LS were statistically significant, but the size of the indirect effect was small (4% of the total effect for anxiety and 6% of the total effect for depression). CONCLUSION: The EQ-5D does not adequately capture the effects of anxiety and depression on LS among older adults, suggesting that it may lead to inaccurate assessments of the effectiveness of interventions in this cohort.

Revisiting the dimensionality of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in an international sample of patients with ischaemic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Recently controversy has surrounded the dimensionality of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We assessed the dimensionality of the HADS in a large international sample of patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The analysis of an international sample enabled the current study to broaden knowledge gained from existing studies with small, regional samples. METHODS: Data from the HeartQoL study of patients with IHD (n=6241, 22 countries speaking 15 languages) were analyzed using CFA. RESULTS: CFA indicated a hierarchical bifactor solution, with mostly strong item loadings on a general factor (explaining 73% of the variance), and weak to very weak loadings on orthogonal depression (16%) and anxiety (11%) subscales. The bifactor model fits the data significantly better than both the original bidimensional model and Dunbar's higher-order three-factor model. CONCLUSION: These results, from a large international sample of patients with IHD, suggest that the HADS scale is dominated by a single general distress factor. Although the best CFA model fit was a hierarchical bifactor solution, the subscales had weak item loadings, providing little psychometric evidence of the ability of the HADS to differentiate anxiety and depressive symptoms. It is argued that clinicians and researchers working with patients with IHD should abandon the HADS and use alternative measures of depression and anxiety.

Development of the brief ageing perceptions questionnaire (B-APQ): a confirmatory factor analysis approach to item reduction.

BACKGROUND: This paper aimed to develop a short version of the 32-item Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ), a multi-dimensional measure based on Leventhal's self-regulation model. Ageing perceptions are a key area of interest for large-scale surveys of ageing populations. As these studies capture a broad range of health and social variables, included instruments need to be as concise as possible. METHODS: Data from the Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA), a representative sample of community-dwelling individuals aged 50+ (n = 6,718), was used to revise the scale. Items for exclusion were identified by examining conceptual content, descriptive statistics, and by detecting sources of poor model fit using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Potential combinations of dimensions were also tested using CFA. Finally, we identified any dimensions that could be excluded without limiting the conceptual coverage and coherence of the scale. Model modifications were done sequentially and with regard to theoretical considerations. Internal consistency and construct validity of the concise scale were compared with the longer version. RESULTS: Initially, 11 items were excluded on the basis of conceptual and empirical overlap with other items. CFA indicated that the negative-control and negative-consequences dimensions could be combined, allowing us to exclude a further item from this dimension. The 5-item timeline-cyclical dimension was also excluded, as it was less well-established conceptually and empirically than the other dimensions. The final 17-item, 5-dimension model was consistent with the original conceptual model and fit the data well (chi-sq = 1433.54, df(109), p < 0.01, RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: The Brief-APQ (B-APQ) is a concise, multi-dimensional measure of ageing perceptions, which is psychometrically valid for use with the Irish population aged 50+. The concise version preserved the internal consistency and construct validity of the original. Its brevity makes it particularly suitable for use with large-scale adult population surveys. The psychometric analysis supports the application of the self-regulation model to ageing perceptions, but also the existence of distinct "physical decline" and "ongoing development" dimensions of perceptions.

Quality of life in older age: evidence from an Irish cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the role of different life domains in determining quality of life (QoL) in Ireland with international results. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of responses to The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing. SETTING: Individuals aged 50 and older living in private residential addresses in the Republic of Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: Eight thousand five hundred four individuals living in 6,279 households in the Republic of Ireland (response rate 62%) were interviewed and completed a self-completion questionnaire. MEASUREMENTS: Quality of life was measured using the Control, Autonomy, Self-realization and Pleasure measure (CASP-19). The domains of physical and mental health, social participation, economic resources, and sociodemographic status were measured using a large number of indicators. Ordinary least squares regression models were used to estimate the effect of factors on CASP-19, with the relative contribution of different domains to total explanation measured using a measure of statistical fit. RESULTS: The mean CASP-19 score for the sample was 43.8 (95% confidence interval = 43.6-44.1), significantly higher than the mean score for the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (mean 42.5: 42.3-42.7). In unadjusted analyses, CASP-19 was curvilinear with age, peaking at 67 and falling thereafter. Controlling for predictors of QoL, CASP-19 continued to rise, at a decreasing rate, with age. Mental health independently explained the largest proportion of variance in CASP-19 (7.6%), but no single domain of life dominated in terms of explanation. CONCLUSION: Increasing longevity can be associated with increasing QoL as long as it is accompanied by reasonable levels of mental and physical health, high-quality relationships, and social participation. Even if physical health becomes poor, evidence suggests that QoL can often remain high as individuals find value and enjoyment in other dimensions of life.

Psychometric evaluation of the CASP-19 quality of life scale in an older Irish cohort.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the validity of current measurement models for the control, autonomy, self-realisation, and pleasure (CASP) measure of quality of life (QoL)-a second-order four-factor CASP-19 model and a second-order three-factor CASP-12 version-in a recent population survey. A previous large sample study did not report good fit for these measurement models. The study also aims to re-develop the model and propose a well-fitting alternative. METHODS: To evaluate the current measurement models, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used. A cross-sectional sample (n = 6,823) representative of the Irish community-dwelling population aged 50 and over was obtained from the Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA). Model revision was based on descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and examination of fit diagnostic statistics. Revised models were tested using CFA. RESULTS: The results of the CFA did not support the validity of the established measurement models. A reformulated 12-item, two-factor model comprising control/autonomy and self-realisation/pleasure, with residual covariances for negatively worded items, had excellent fit to the data (χ(2) 161.90, df = 44, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.03, 90 % CI 0.02-0.03), and a clearer conceptual rationale. The same model with one overall QoL factor had similar excellent fit. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of the single-factor model (CASP-R12) when assessing overall quality of life. The dimensions of control/autonomy and self-realisation/pleasure can be examined separately by researchers interested in those constructs. Researchers using structural equation modelling can use the well-fitting measurement model outlined here including adjustment for residual covariances.

The future cost of stroke in Ireland: an analysis of the potential impact of demographic change and implementation of evidence-based therapies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: this paper examines the impact of demographic change from 2007 to 2021 on the total cost of stroke in Ireland and analyses potential impacts of expanded access to stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy on stroke outcomes and costs. METHODS: total costs of stroke are estimated for the projected number of stroke cases in 2021 in Ireland. Analysis also estimates the potential number of deaths or institutionalised cases averted among incident stroke cases in Ireland in 2007 at different rates of access to stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy. Drawing on these results, total stroke costs in Ireland in 2007 are recalculated on the basis of the revised numbers of incident stroke patients estimated to survive stroke, and of the numbers estimated to reside at home rather than in a nursing home in the context of expanded access to stroke units or thrombolytic therapy. RESULTS: future costs of stroke in Ireland are estimated to increase by 52-57% between 2007 and 2021 on the basis of demographic change. The projected increase in aggregate stroke costs for all incident cases in 1 year in Ireland due to the delivery of stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy can be offset to some extent by reductions in nursing home and other post-acute costs.