A community-based exercise and education scheme for stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial and economic evaluation

Clin Rehabil. 2010 Jan;24(1):3-15. doi: 10.1177/0269215509347437. Epub 2009 Dec 21.

Abstract

Objective: The evaluation of a community-based exercise and education scheme for stroke survivors.

Design: A single blind parallel group randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Leisure and community centres in the south-west of England.

Subjects: Stroke survivors (median (IQR) time post stroke 10.3 (5.4-17.1) months). 243 participants were randomized to standard care (124) or the intervention (119).

Intervention: Exercise and education schemes held twice weekly for eight weeks, facilitated by volunteers and qualified exercise instructors (supported by a physiotherapist), each with nine participants plus carers or family members.

Method: Participants were assessed by a blinded independent assessor at two weeks before the start of the scheme, nine weeks and six months. One-year follow-up was by postal assessment.

Primary outcomes: Subjective Index of Physical and Social Outcome (SIPSO); Frenchay Activities Index; Rivermead Mobility Index. NHS, social care and personal costs. Secondary outcomes included WHOQoL-Bref.

Analysis: Intention-to-treat basis, using non-parametric analysis to investigate change from baseline. Economic costs were compared in a cost-consequences analysis.

Results: There were significant between-group changes in SIPSO physical at nine weeks (median (95% confidence interval (CI)), 1 (0, 2): P = 0.022) and at one year (0 (-1, 2): P = 0.024). (WHOQol-Bref psychological (6.2 (-0.1, 9.1): P = 0.011) at six months. Mean cost per patient was higher in the intervention group. The difference, excluding inpatient care, was pound296 (95% CI: - pound321 to pound913).

Conclusion: The community scheme for stroke survivors was a low-cost intervention successful in improving physical integration, maintained at one year, when compared with standard care.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Caregivers / economics
  • Caregivers / psychology
  • Community Health Centers / economics*
  • Community Networks / economics*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Exercise Therapy / economics
  • Exercise Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Patient Education as Topic / economics
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Quality of Life
  • Social Support
  • State Medicine / economics
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Stroke / economics
  • Stroke Rehabilitation*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United Kingdom
  • Volunteers