Rationale A well-established multi-disciplinary research group at the University of Strathclyde (UoS) Biomedical Engineering department have developed and tested a multi-technology rehabilitation model as a solution to the gap between clinical need and current provision. The technology enriched rehabilitation model has been tested under controlled conditions with chronic stroke survivors (at least one-year post stroke) and shown to be feasible with preliminary evidence of efficacy. The model has since been tested on acute/sub-acute stroke patients in an NHS stroke unit and found to be feasible and clinically acceptable with early evidence of an increased rehabilitation dose. This early stroke population has greater potential for recovery as the brain is more receptive to recovery through structural changes to neural pathways (neuroplasticity), therefore delivering higher intensity rehabilitation is therefore more critical at this phase of rehabilitation.
Funding has now been secured to progress this work by gathering evidence on the effectiveness of this approach in recovery mobility (walking, balance and) as well as gathering preliminary evidence of cost effectiveness (healthcare use).
Overall aim To determine whether early, technology-based rehabilitation after stroke improves mobility compared with usual care, using a virtual control group from national linked data, and to identify factors that influence recovery and assess economic benefit.
Specific questions;
- In sub-acute stroke, does technology-enhanced rehabilitation improve mobility (mRMI) versus a virtual usual-care control identified via a data linkage study, 3 and 6 months after stroke?
- What is the relationship between delivered dose (hours of rehabilitation) and outcome?
- Which baseline factors influence outcomes?
- What are the potential economic benefits of the technology-based rehabilitation programme compared with usual care, based on differences in healthcare and social care resource use and patient outcomes, using national linked data?
Outcome measures The primary variable for comparison will be the modified Rivermead Mobility Index (mRMI) which is a standard measure of mobility routinely used in the NHS, including NHS Lanarkshire. In addition to this the research team will carry out the following tests before the intervention and before discharge.
Measures of motor recovery:
10mwt, five times sit to stand, short version of the BERG Balance Scale, Timed up and Go test, Action Research Arm Test
Health economic measures:
Length of initial stay, Hospital readmissions, stroke recurrence, mortality, Prescription use, GP visits, Level of paid social care STUDY DESIGN and METHODS of DATA COLLECTION AND DATA ANALYIS This is a phase 2, Pre-post design with a non-equivalent virtual control group (VCG) from data linkage study in line with Medical Research Council recommendations for development of a complex intervention.
- Inpatients on the stroke unit at University Hospital Wishaw will be assessed for broad eligibility by the NHS multidisciplinary team using the inclusion/exclusion criteria.
- Patients who have been identified as medically fit for rehabilitation and who fit the criteria for the study shall be highlighted to the research assistant by the NHS medical/therapy team. The researcher shall then check with the relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team that all inclusion/exclusion criteria are met before approaching the patient.
- The Participant Information Sheet with info on the study shall be supplied to the patient by the research assistant and an opportunity shall be offered for any questions from the patient and their family/carers if appropriate, with the patients consent. Informed consent shall then be taken by a University of Strathclyde research assistant only.
- Participants will be supported to access and use the rehabilitation technology, in addition to usual care, by NHS staff. This will involve the prescription of a rehabilitation technology programme by the ward NHS physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, following usual care assessment. This is with an aim to increase rehabilitation activity within the participant's capacity, taking into account their level of impairment and fatigue. Therefore, time spent using the rehabilitation technology will be varied and tailored to meet the participant's needs. The dose and intensity of technology enriched rehabilitation will be measured and recorded, however will not be controlled for these reasons.
- The Principal Investigator (NHS occupational therapist) will hold weekly meetings with the ward therapy staff to discuss any concerns around the study or regarding participant programs and will liaise directly with the research assistant as appropriate.
- Data collection/outcome measures will be completed as follows; Measures of recruitment and adherence Levels of recruitment (percentage of eligible individual consenting to participate) and attrition (percentage of people dropping/opting out before discharge) will be monitored and collated by the research assistant.
Duration spent on activities within the 'technology enriched rehabilitation space' will be timed by the NHS staff supporting the participants within the room, and these will be collated by the research assistant.
Additional outcome measures In order to further inform future studies the research team will collate the scores of the standard care
- Any Serious Adverse Effects (SAE) should be reported immediately to the Principal Investigator and a report made
- Participants' involvement in the study will end upon discharge from the stroke unit, or if withdrawn from the study for medical reasons or by personal choice.
Sample size Sample size / detectable difference. For a between-group difference of 1.6 points on the 15-point Rivermead Mobility Index (SD 3.0) (GAPS Study, Glasgow Augmented Physiotherapy Study (GAPS) group, 2004) with α = 0.05 and 80% power, the study requires ≈56 participants per group. Allowing for 10% attrition, the recruitment target of 62 participants per group is considered sufficient. The previous feasibility study recruited 60 participants over 9 months, a similar target is therefore regarded as achievable. A larger sample size for the virtual group (matched on diagnosis, age and Heath Board area) is planned (n=150) to improve statistical power. This would give a total sample of 212.
Data Analysis Analysis will be completed by the research team at the University of Strathclyde.
This pilot efficacy study will test the superiority of technology enriched rehabilitation over usual care by comparing the primary outcome measure (mRMI).
Exploratory analysis of other outcome measures of balance, upper limb function and walking recorded from the sample at UHW will be used to understand change in the primary variable (mRMI).
