Stroke survivors needed for rehabilitation exercise research - recruitment now complete

Around 150,000 people a year in the UK suffer a stroke, and exercise is recognised as a beneficial and effective part of their rehabilitation programme.

A PhD research study from the University of Exeter Medical School, supported by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula (NIHR PenCLAHRC) is attempting to develop a questionnaire to measure adherence to post-stroke home-based exercise rehabilitation programmes.

The aim of the questionnaire is to see how much of their exercise programmes people who have had a stroke complete at home. The PhD researchers carrying out the study are investigating patients’ experiences of such programmes, and their adherence to them, with a view to being able to accurately assess how well people are sticking, or did stick to their programmes.

In order to complete the study, the research team need people who have had a stroke to fill out a questionnaire relating to the exercises they were asked to do at home. Once enough people have completed it, the researchers will analyse the questionnaire to try and improve it and follow it up with a second shorter one to complete the study.

All postage costs are covered by the study and stroke survivors can complete the questionnaires in their own time and are encouraged to ask for help from friends and family if they would like it.

The study is led by PhD student, Jessica Bollen at the University of Exeter Medical School. She said: “There is evidence that these programmes are useful in improving function, quality of life, cardiovascular health and motor strength whilst reducing disability, and the risk of secondary strokes. However, to reap the benefits of these programmes the exercise regimes need to be adhered to. We would like people who have had a stroke and been asked to complete exercise at home to let us know their experiences. This will help us to develop a questionnaire that will aid in identifying if stroke survivors are gaining the most benefit from their rehabilitation exercise programmes. This will help us work out how well an exercise programme works and how much exercise is needed to obtain a benefit.”

This study is being carried out by Jessica Bollen.  Please note the recruitment of volunteers is now complete.

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