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Using a checklist to facilitate management of long-term care needs after stroke: insights from focus groups and a feasibility study.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Mullis, Ricky 
Lim, Lisa 
Kreit, Lizzie 
Mant, Jonathan 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Long-term needs of stroke survivors are often not adequately addressed and many patients are dissatisfied with care post-discharge from hospital. Primary care could play an important role in identifying need in people with stroke. AIM: We aimed to explore, refine and test the feasibility and acceptability of a post-stroke checklist for stroke reviews in primary care. DESIGN AND SETTING: Focus groups (using a generic qualitative approach) and a single-centre feasibility study. METHOD: Five focus groups were conducted; three with healthcare providers and two with stroke survivors/carers. The focus groups discussed acceptability of a checklist approach and the content of an existing checklist. The checklist was then modified and piloted in one general practice surgery in the East of England. RESULTS: The qualitative data found the concept of a checklist was considered valuable to standardise stroke reviews and prevent post-stroke problems being missed. Items were identified that were missing from the original checklist: return to work, fatigue, intimate relationships and social activities. Time constraints was the main concern from healthcare professionals and pre-completion of the checklist was suggested to address this. Thirteen stroke survivors were recruited to the feasibility study. The modified checklist was found to be feasible and acceptable to patients and primary care clinicians and resulted in agreed action plans. CONCLUSION: The modified post-stroke checklist is a pragmatic and feasible approach to identify problems post-stroke and facilitate referral to appropriate support services. The checklist is a potentially valuable tool to structure stroke reviews using a patient-centred approach.

Description

Keywords

Long-term care, Primary care, Quality of life, Rehabilitation, Stroke, Adult, Aftercare, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Checklist, Feasibility Studies, Female, Focus Groups, Health Personnel, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Needs Assessment, Primary Health Care, Stroke, Stroke Rehabilitation, Survivors

Journal Title

BMC Fam Pract

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1471-2296
1471-2296

Volume Title

20

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)) (PTC-RP-PG-0213-20001)
The study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research (PTC-RP-PG-0213-20001). This paper summarises independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grant for Applied Research (PTC-RP=PG-0213-20001). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.