Adherence to Canadian best practice recommendations for stroke care: assessment and management of poststroke depression in an Ontario rehabilitation facility

Determinants of Antidepressant Treatment and Outpatient Rehabilitation Within the First Year After Stroke

This study aims to identify individual determinants of antidepressant treatment and outpatient rehabilitation after stroke. People with ischemic stroke (N = 303) recruited at 2 inpatient rehabilitation clinics were included into a prospective longitudinal study with follow-up telephone interviews 6 and 12 months later. Participants reported on their use of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy as well as physical, occupational, speech, and neuropsychological therapy. The use of antidepressants at discharge (n = 65, 23.8%) was predicted by the severity of depressive symptoms, severity of stroke, history of depression, and use of antidepressants at admission (all p < .05, R²= .55). The number of outpatient rehabilitation services used at follow-ups was predicted by higher functional and cognitive impairment, higher education, younger age, severity of depressive symptoms, and lower self-efficacy (all p < .05; R²_6M = .24, R²_12M = .49). The relevance of identified determinants for the improvement of treatment rates after stroke is discussed.

The Post-Stroke Depression Risk Scale (PoStDeRiS): Development of an Acute-Phase Prediction Model for Depression 6 Months After Stroke

BACKGROUND

Depression after stroke is common but often undertreated as increasing depression prevalence and decreasing health care contacts diverge after the event.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an acute-phase prediction scale for prognosis of depression 6 months after stroke.

METHODS

Participants (N = 226) were consecutively recruited and assessed within the first week after ischemic stroke for history of depression, stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), and functional independence (Barthel Index). Early depressive symptoms were self-reported via the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and external-rated by nurses via the Signs of Depression Scale. Six months later, 183 participants were assessed for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition diagnosis of depression. Significant predictors of depression were identified in multivariate logistic regression analysis and their coefficients transformed into a risk scale. Measurement precision was identified using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

Depression was diagnosed in 32 (17.5%) participants 6 months after stroke. History of depression, the Barthel Index, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 were significant predictors of depression. Transformation of the coefficients yielded the Post-Stroke Depression Risk Scale that demonstrated good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.84; 95% confidence interval = 0.78/0.90). The optimum cutoff showed a sensitivity of 0.81, a specificity of 0.72, a positive predictive value of 0.38, and a negative predictive value of 0.95.

CONCLUSIONS

The Post-Stroke Depression Risk Scale accurately identifies people in the acute phase with low risk of depression 6 months later, which saves expendable psychiatric interviews in stroke patients. While the sensitivity indicates that recognition of people with later depression is adequate, positive results in the acute phase show low predictivity. Clinical and methodological reasons for these results as well as implications for future research to increase case-finding ability are discussed.

The Cognitive-Communication Checklist for Acquired Brain Injury: A Means of Identifying, Recording, and Tracking Communication Impairments

Purpose The communication service needs of individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABIs) are frequently overlooked, leading to delays, denials, or premature discharge from communication interventions. This is particularly true for those with subtle cognitive-communication deficits, which may not be apparent until sufficiently challenged at work, in school, or in the community. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a referral tool that could promote understanding of the broad range of communication impairments that occur following ABI and lead to improved identification and referral. Method This study evaluated the Cognitive-Communication Checklist for Acquired Brain Injury (CCCABI) through a survey. The CCCABI is a referral tool that summarizes 45 communication difficulties in 10 areas of cognitive-communication functioning. One hundred sixteen speech-language pathologists, 34 multidisciplinary referral sources, and 41 individuals with lived experience of brain injury were surveyed to evaluate the utility of this referral tool. Results The need for such a referral tool was endorsed by 96% of speech-language pathology respondents, 91% of multidisciplinary respondents, and 100% of respondents with lived experience of brain injury. Responses supported the CCCABI as a clear, comprehensive, and accessible tool for education and identification of the communication impairments that can occur after ABI. Conclusion The CCCABI is a means of increasing understanding of communication service needs following ABI in a manner that is accessible to individuals, families, program designers, funding sources, administrators, and multidisciplinary referral sources.

[Possibility of treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders in patients with stroke during rehabilitation]

AIM

To assess the effect of the comprehensive rehabilitation, which includes mechanotherapy and cognitive stimulation based on tablet technologies, on emotional and behavioral disorders in patients in the acute stage of ischemic stroke.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study enrolled 100 patients admitted to the hospital in the acute stage of ischemic stroke. The patients were randomized into treatment and control groups. Patients of the treatment group (n=50) underwent daily robotic mechanotherapy using the MOTOmed movement trainer and tablet technologies for self-training to improve memory, perception, reaction, counting. Patients of the control group (n=50) received standard therapy. The functional state of patients was assessed with the Rankin modified scale. Psychometric scales (the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories) were used to measure emotional and behavioral disorders.

RESULTS

The program of comprehensive rehabilitation in the acute stage of ischemic stroke helps to decrease emotional and behavioral disorders (p=0.0001). In patients of the treatment group, the severity of depressive disorders was lower at discharge from the hospital and continued to decrease for 6 months (p=0.001). The level of anxiety decreased over the study period (p=0.0001) compared with the patients of the control group who did not demonstrate improvement. Patients of the treatment group displayed better functional recovery reflected by significant changes in Rankin scale scores.

CONCLUSION

The rehabilitation program, which includes mechanotherapy and cognitive stimulation based on tablet technologies, is an easy and accessible method for treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders in patients in the acute stage of ischemic stroke. The results are maintained during the study period with further improvement after 3 and 6 months.

Prevalence of pre-stroke depression and its association with post-stroke depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common post-stroke complication. Pre-stroke depression may be an important contributor, however the epidemiology of pre-stroke depression is poorly understood. Using systematic review and meta-analysis, we described the prevalence of pre-stroke depression and its association with post-stroke depression.

METHODS

We searched multiple cross-disciplinary databases from inception to July 2017 and extracted data on the prevalence of pre-stroke depression and its association with post-stroke depression. We assessed the risk of bias (RoB) using validated tools. We described summary estimates of prevalence and summary odds ratio (OR) for association with post-stroke depression, using random-effects models. We performed subgroup analysis describing the effect of depression assessment method. We used a funnel plot to describe potential publication bias. The strength of evidence presented in this review was summarised via 'GRADE'.

RESULTS

Of 11 884 studies identified, 29 were included (total participants n = 164 993). Pre-stroke depression pooled prevalence was 11.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.2-14.7]; range: 0.4-24% (I2 95.8). Prevalence of pre-stroke depression varied by assessment method (p = 0.02) with clinical interview suggesting greater pre-stroke depression prevalence (~17%) than case-note review (9%) or self-report (11%). Pre-stroke depression was associated with increased odds of post-stroke depression; summary OR 3.0 (95% CI 2.3-4.0). All studies were judged to be at RoB: 59% of included studies had an uncertain RoB in stroke assessment; 83% had high or uncertain RoB for pre-stroke depression assessment. Funnel plot indicated no risk of publication bias. The strength of evidence based on GRADE was 'very low'.

CONCLUSIONS

One in six stroke patients have had pre-stroke depression. Reported rates may be routinely underestimated due to limitations around assessment. Pre-stroke depression significantly increases odds of post-stroke depression.Protocol identifierPROSPERO identifier: CRD42017065544.

Screening Adherence for Depression Post Stroke: Evaluation of Outpatients, a London Experience (SAD PEOPLE)

BACKGROUND

Post stroke depression (PSD) is common, and the transition home following discharge may be especially challenging for stroke survivors.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine how well specific Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for PSD screening were adopted within a stroke rehabilitation outpatient clinic before and after the utilization of a standardized clinical form.

METHODS

Practices were evaluated through retrospective chart review before and after the implementation of the standardized form which cued physicians to administer the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) at the first outpatient visit. Participants included those aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of stroke.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-five subjects' charts were reviewed. Form implementation was associated with increased rates of PSD screening (93.8% versus 0%) and charting regarding mood (55.4% versus 15.7%).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the frequency of depressive symptoms in an outpatient cohort and demonstrates how screening rates can be improved by using a standardized form. Routine PHQ-9 completion at the first outpatient visit was associated with more physician-patient discussion and documentation regarding mood.

Depressive Symptoms in Individuals after Stroke in a Home-Based Rehabilitation Setting

Poststroke depression has been shown to affect rehabilitation progress. This study evaluated patients after stroke who actively participated in a home-based rehabilitation program to determine variables that correlated with depressive symptoms in this population. A retrospective review of patients who were provided rehabilitation by Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team clinicians between January 1, 2009, and September 30, 2015, was completed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine which demographic and outcome variables (Functional Independence Measure [FIM™] and Reintegration to Normal Living Index [RNLI]) were independently associated with depressive symptoms, as defined by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores. 889 patients (53.2% male, mean age = 69.8 years) were included. Based on PHQ-9 scores, 89.7% of patients presented with no or mild depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 < 10) and 10.3% were considered to have moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). The regression demonstrated that referral from outpatient, community care access centre, or community settings (OR = 1.89, p = 0.04), low RNLI scores (OR = 0.92; p = 0.001), and younger age (OR = 0.96; p < 0.001) predicted patients having moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Given the impact of poststroke depression on rehabilitation, clinicians should consider the potential impact of referral source, community reintegration, and age when monitoring and treating depressive symptoms.

Implementation of Prescheduled Follow-Ups With Education Improve Poststroke Depression Screening Compliance in Routine Clinical Practice

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the extent to which the mood of stroke patients is assessed and what kind of assessment methods are used in routine clinical practice, and whether prescheduled follow-ups can improve the detection of depression, particularly when this practice is blended with better education for health care professionals in assessing and detecting depression.

DESIGN

Before-after trial with an 18-month follow-up and a review of medical records.

SETTING

Acute care hospital, community.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive acute stroke patients (N=398) were screened. Patients lived in a health care district with a population of 132,000. The screening took place in the first half of 2010 and then again, after the implementation of the follow-up system, in the first half of 2012. After exclusion of patients too severely ill to be interviewed, there were n=105 patients in the 2010 sample and n=112 patients in the 2012 sample.

INTERVENTION

Implementation of a follow-up path for all stroke patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The percentage and quality of mood assessments in the medical records; and the stroke patients' depressive symptoms and their satisfaction with their care.

RESULTS

In the 2010 sample, 47% of the patients (n=48) had documentation of mood in their medical records. After the implementation of prescheduled follow-ups, 77% of the patients (n=86) had documented moods. The increase was highly significant (P<.001). During the early outpatient phase, the use of interviews increased from 14% (n=15) to 45% (n=50) of the patients (P<.001). The increase in the satisfaction with care did not reach statistical significance. Depressive symptoms recorded at any time were associated with depressive symptoms at 18 months (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prescheduled follow-ups for all stroke patients, including routine depression screening, can remarkably improve the compliance with depression screening and the detection of depression.

Guidelines for dementia or Parkinson's disease with depression or anxiety: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety remain under-diagnosed and under-treated in those with neurologic diseases such as dementia or Parkinson's Disease (PD). Our objectives were to first, to provide a synthesis of high quality guidelines available for the identification and management of depression or anxiety in those with dementia or PD. Second, to identify areas for improvement for future guidelines.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE (2009 to July 24, 2015), grey literature (83 sources; July 24-Sept 6, 2015), and bibliographies of included studies. Included studies were evaluated for quality by four independent reviewers the AGREE II tool. Guideline characteristics, statements and recommendations relevant to depression or anxiety for dementia and PD were then extracted. (PROSPERO CRD: 42016014584) RESULTS: 8121 citations were reviewed with 31 full text articles included for assessment with the AGREE II tool. 17 were of sufficient quality for inclusion. Mean overall quality scores were between 4.25 to 6.5. Domain scores were lowest in the areas of stakeholder involvement, applicability, and editorial independence. Recommendations for the screening and diagnosis of depression were found for PD and dementia. There was little evidence to guide diagnosis or management of anxiety. Non-pharmacologic therapies were recommended for dementia patients. Most advocated pharmacologic treatment for depression, for both PD and dementia, but did not specify an agent due to lack of evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

The available recent high quality guidelines outline several recommendations for the management of comorbid depression or anxiety in PD or dementia. However there remain significant gaps in the evidence.

Building a Knowledge to Action Program in Stroke Rehabilitation

The knowledge to action (KTA) process proposed by Graham et al (2006) is a framework to facilitate the development and application of research evidence into clinical practice. The KTA process consists of the knowledge creation cycle and the action cycle. The Evidence Based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation is a foundational part of the knowledge creation cycle and has helped guide the development of best practice recommendations in stroke. The Rehabilitation Knowledge to Action Project is an audit-feedback process for the clinical implementation of best practice guidelines, which follows the action cycle. The objective of this review was to: (1) contextualize the Evidence Based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Knowledge to Action Project within the KTA model and (2) show how this process led to improved evidence-based practice in stroke rehabilitation. Through this process, a single centre was able to change clinical practice and promote a culture that supports the use of evidence-based practices in stroke rehabilitation.

Barriers and enablers to implementing multiple stroke guideline recommendations: a qualitative study

Background

Translating evidence into practice is an important final step in the process of evidence-based practice. Medical record audits can be used to examine how well practice compares with published evidence, and identify evidence-practice gaps. After providing audit feedback to professionals, local barriers to practice change can be identified and targetted with focussed behaviour change interventions. This study aimed to identify barriers and enablers to implementing multiple stroke guideline recommendations at one Australian stroke unit.

Methods

A qualitative methodology was used. A sample of 28 allied health, nursing and medical professionals participated in a group or individual interview. These interviews occurred after staff had received audit feedback and identified areas for practice change. Questions focused on barriers and enablers to implementing guideline recommendations about management of: upper limb sensory impairments, mobility including sitting balance; vision; anxiety and depression; neglect; swallowing; communication; education for stroke survivors and carers; advice about return to work and driving. Qualitative data were analysed for themes using theoretical domains described by Michie and colleagues (2005).

Results

Six group and two individual interviews were conducted, involving six disciplines. Barriers were different across disciplines. The six key barriers identified were: (1) Beliefs about capabilities of individual professionals and their discipline, and about patient capabilities (2) Beliefs about the consequences, positive and negative, of implementing the recommendations (3) Memory of, and attention to, best practices (4) Knowledge and skills required to implement best practice; (5) Intention and motivation to implement best practice, and (6) Resources. Some barriers were also enablers to change. For example, occupational therapists required new knowledge and skills (a barrier), to better manage sensation and neglect impairments while physiotherapists generally knew how to implement best-practice mobility rehabilitation (an enabler).

Conclusions

Findings add to current knowledge about barriers to change and implementation of multiple guideline recommendations. Major challenges included sexuality education and depression screening. Limited knowledge and skills was a common barrier. Knowledge about specific interventions was needed before implementation could commence, and to maintain treatment fidelity. The provision of detailed online intervention protocols and manuals may help clinicians to overcome the knowledge barrier.