RETAKE - Return to Work After Stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
RETurn to work After stroKE (RETAKE) Early vocational rehabilitation compared with usual care for stroke survivors: an individually randomised controlled multi-centre pragmatic trial with embedded economic and process evaluations
IRAS ID
234874
Contact name
Kathryn Radford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Every year 110,000 people in England have a stroke, 25% of which are of working age. For many, a primary goal is to return to work yet fewer than 50% of those working at stroke onset do. Being in work benefits personal finances, mood, lifestyle and relationships. Current rehabilitation after stroke aims to help people to be able to live independently, but does not focus on helping them back into work. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) involves helping people find work, prevent job loss and support career progression despite disability.
This study will involve 760 stroke survivors (420 ESSVR plus usual care, 340 usual care alone), who are employed at stroke onset, and their carers (if applicable). Two occupational therapists from 20 UK hospitals will receive training in the Early Stroke Specialist Vocational Rehabilitation (ESSVR). ESSVR seeks to lessen the impact of stroke by assessing the patient’s role as a worker and finding acceptable strategies to overcome problems. ESSVR is individually tailored to participants’ needs, starting within eight weeks of stroke, with dose and intensity as needed.
The success of ESSVR will primarily be measured by the number of stroke survivors who are in employment (paid or unpaid) for a minimum of 2 hours at 12 months post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes will also include changes in mood, physical function, community integration, quality of life, work self-efficacy, post-stroke confidence, the number of NHS services needed for participants, changes in the numbers and types of negative events participants experience (for example admission to hospital).REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EM/0019
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion