The PostStroke-Manager - combining mobile, digital and sensor-based technology with personal assistance: protocol of the feasibility study

Case management-based post-stroke care for patients with acute stroke and TIA (SOS-Care): a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The high incidence of stroke recurrence necessitates effective post-stroke care. This study investigates the effectiveness of a case management-based post-stroke care program in patients with acute stroke and TIA.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, patients with TIA, ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage were enrolled into a 12-month case management-based program (SOS-Care) along with conventional care. Control patients received only conventional care. The program included home and phone consultations by case managers, focusing on education, medical and social needs and guideline-based secondary prevention. The primary outcome was the composite of stroke recurrence and vascular death after 12 months. Secondary outcomes included vascular risk factor control at 12 months.

RESULTS

From 11/2011 to 12/2020, 1109 patients (17.9% TIA, 77.5% ischemic stroke, 4.6% intracerebral hemorrhage) were enrolled. After 85 (7.7%) dropouts, 925 SOS-Care patients remained for comparative analysis with 99 controls. Baseline characteristics were similar, except for fewer males and less frequent history of dyslipidemia in post-stroke care. At 12 months, post-stroke care was associated with a reduction in the composite endpoint compared to controls (4.9 vs. 14.1%; HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.56, p < 0.001), with consistent results in ischemic stroke patients alone (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.17-0.61, p < 0.001). Post-stroke care more frequently achieved treatment goals for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, BMI and adherence to secondary prevention medication (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Case management-based post-stroke care may effectively mitigate the risk of vascular events in unselected stroke patients. These findings could guide future randomized trials investigating the efficacy of case management-based models in post-stroke care.

Development of a Digital Tool for People With a Long-Term Condition Using Stroke as a Case Example: Participatory Design Approach

Background

In patient care, demand is growing for digital health tools to enable remote services and enhance patient involvement. People with chronic conditions often have multiple health problems, and long-term follow-up is recommended to meet their needs and enable access to appropriate support. A digital tool for previsit preparation could enhance time efficiency and guide the conversation during the visit toward the patient’s priorities.

Objective

This study aims to develop a digital previsit tool and explore potential end user’s perceptions, using a participatory approach with stroke as a case example.

Methods

The digital tool was developed and prototyped according to service design principles, informed by qualitative participant data and feedback from an expert panel. All features were processed in workshops with a team that included a patient partner. The resulting tool presented questions about health problems and health information. Study participants were people with stroke recruited from an outpatient clinic and patient organizations in Sweden. Development and data collection were conducted in parallel. For conceptualization, the initial prototype was based on the Post-Stroke Checklist and research. Needs and relevance were explored in focus groups, and we used a web survey and individual interviews to explore perceived utility, ease of use, and acceptance. Data were thematically analyzed following the Framework Method.

Results

The development process included 22 participants (9 women) with a median age of 59 (range 42-83) years and a median of 51 (range 4-228) months since stroke. Participants were satisfied or very satisfied with using the tool and recommended its use in clinical practice. Three main themes were constructed based on focus group data (n=12) and interviews (n=10). First, valuable accessible information illuminated the need for information to confirm experiences, facilitate responses, and invite engagement in their care. Amendments to the information in turn reconfigured their expectations. Second, utility and complexity in answering confirmed that the questions were relevant and comprehensible. Some participants perceived the answer options as limiting and suggested additional space for free text. Third, capturing needs and value of the tool highlighted the tool’s potential to identify health problems and the importance of encouraging further dialog. The resulting digital tool, Strokehälsa [Strokehealth] version 1.0, is now incorporated into a national health platform.

Conclusions

The participatory approach to tool development yielded a previsit digital tool that the study group perceived as useful. The holistic development process used here, which integrated health information, validated questions, and digital functionality, offers an example that could be applicable in the context of other long-term conditions. Beyond its potential to identify care needs, the tool offers information that confirms experiences and supports answering the questions in the tool. The tool is freely shared for adaptation in different contexts.

Trial Registration

researchweb 236341; https://www.researchweb.org/is/vgr/project/236341