C-GRASP -Stroke caregivers experiences of GRASP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are caregivers experiences of supporting stroke survivors with Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) self-management in the community?
IRAS ID
248449
Contact name
Avril Drummond
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 10 days
Research summary
In the UK there are 1.2 million stroke survivors and over the next twenty years this is forecast to increase by 123%. Stroke is a leading cause of disability and three quarters of survivors will suffer arm weakness and reduced function. Impaired arm function will affect stroke survivor’s quality of life and dependence on support for activities of daily living. Arm rehabilitation is demanding and self-management is being promoted by both research and health policies to provide increasing intensity of arm exercises. This combined with a shortened hospital stay and shift towards community-based rehabilitation increasingly demands informal supportgivers for self-management homework. Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) is a homework-based program to improve arm function after stroke. Currently there is limited research into caregivers and GRASP. Despite studies associating carer involvement in GRASP with improved arm recovery and demonstrating 70% of patients required caregiver support with GRASP. This study will use semi-structured interviews to investigate supportgivers experiences of GRASP in the community. We are interested to understand from their perspective what type of support was required, their reality of supporting stroke survivors to complete GRASP at home and the impact of this upon them. Up to 10 caregiver/supportgiver participants will be recruited from Derby City Early Supported Stroke Discharge (ESSD) and Integrated Care Services Neurology caseload team using a purposeful sample selected by: ethnicity; gender; age; relationship to stroke survivor and the ability levels of the stroke survivor they support. Eligible participants will be over 18 years old; able to give informed consent and have been identified as a caregiver or supportgiver of a stroke survivor completing or having completed GRASP in the last three months. The interview in an agreed Derbyshire location will be on average 30 minutes. It will be recorded, documented and analysed for themes.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EM/0246
Date of REC Opinion
5 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion