Balance and balance confidence after stroke. version 1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Balance confidence after stroke: Evaluating the impact of disparity between patients' perceived and actual abilities on community integration. A feasibility study.

  • IRAS ID

    209197

  • Contact name

    Gemma Shuter

  • Contact email

    gemma.shuter@berkshire.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Brunel University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 4 months, 4 days

  • Research summary

    Stroke is a key area within UK healthcare due to the prevalence and cost to society. Reduced satisfaction with community integration after Stroke is high therefore it is important to consider the factors that influence it, however research in this area is scarce. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of disparity between patients’ perceived and actual balance abilities on community integration. Confidence, including balance confidence, is reduced after stroke. It is less clear whether an individual’s perception of their balance ability is inaccurately low, if the degree of inaccuracy changes over time and if the degree of inaccuracy is related to level of community reintegration. Further research establishing whether patients have inaccurately low perceptions of their balance after stroke, and it's impact on community integration, would guide neurorehabilitation thereby improving patient outcomes including successful community reintegration.
    A convenience sample of sub-acute stroke patients with a stroke-related change in their walking capabilities will be included in the study. These patients will have been discharged home with input from the Wokingham and East Berkshire strands of the Berkshire Healthcare Early Supported Discharge team. The patients will be assessed on discharge and after six weeks in an observational study. The Activity Specific Confidence scale, the Functional Gait Assessment and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index will be recorded at both time points to measure balance confidence, balance ability and community reintegration respectively.

  • REC name

    London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/1714

  • Date of REC Opinion

    22 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion