Visitors' & stroke patients' use of a tablet computer during visiting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study of visitors and stroke patients using a tablet touch screen during visits to a stroke rehabilitation unit
IRAS ID
244222
Contact name
Paula Otter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 10 days
Research summary
Brief background: With a continually aging population, the number of people requiring rehabilitation following a stroke is expected to rise significantly over the next 20 years. Previous research has shown that carers play an important role in the outcome of stroke survivors but that they often experience anxiety and stress early on in rehabilitation whilst patients are still in hospital. Patients who have suffered a severe stroke often have significant difficulties with their language and cognitive (thinking and problem solving)abilities making interaction difficult which can lead to increase anxiety for family/friends when visiting.
Aim of this study: to establish if tablet technology, used by family/friends during a visit to the rehabilitation unit, has the potential to improve the experience of that visit, from the family/friend point of view.
How will this research be completed: Up to 6 individual case studies will be completed at St Luke's Stroke Unit in Market Harborough. The focus of the project will be on the relative/friend visiting the patient following a severe stroke and the experience they have regarding interaction with their relative/friend during the visit when using the tablet computer. A tablet computer will be provided during the visit and will have apps loaded from 'MYtherappy' (a website endorsed by the NHS with recommendations for interactive activities/games of benefit to stroke patients), which can be used as a means of interaction between family/friends and the stroke patient. This intervention will then be evaluated through the collection and analysis of data from questionnaires, likert scales and interviews which have been completed by the relative/friend.
It is hoped that this research will provide detailed information on the experience, from a relative/friend perspective. This will then be used to change practice on the ward to improve the experience of a visit between stroke patients and their regular visitors.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0171
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion