The patient’s perspective on recovery of life-space mobility and quality of life after stroke (MOBITEC-Patient-Perspective)

Background

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and stroke incidence increases with age. If survived, stroke is the most common cause of disability in adults. Thus, stroke frequently results in permanent limitations of mobility, and consequently the need for the help of others in activities of daily living.

The current body of literature on stroke recovery mainly focuses on function needed to move oneself (e.g. strength, balance, walking ability). However, from a patient perspective, it is more important to evaluate the places a patient can or cannot go to, and to what extent this affects the perceived quality of life (QoL). Therefore, the “life-space mobility” appears to be an outcome of high practical relevance. However, despite its relevance for personal health and social interaction, life-space mobility after stroke has scarcely been examined.

Objective

This satellite project of MOBITEC-Stroke will allow developing recommendations for individualized treatment to improve patient’s mobility post stroke. Future individualized treatment could focus on empowerment of patients and will consider the patient’s perspective aiming to improve the QoL after stroke.

Methods

This cross-sectional study is observational and consists of two parts. The first part is questionnaire-based and the second part uses semi-structured interviews. In the first part of the study this exploratory study, we will measure stroke patient’s actual and desired mobility in two different ways: with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging Life-Space Assessment (LSA) and with an innovative digital map-based life-space assessment tool. Additionally, health-related QoL will be assessed using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life scale (SS-QoL).

In the second part of the study, we will investigate discrepancies between actual and desired mobility and underlying facilitators and barriers for the patients’ mobility using semi-structured interviews with patients and clinicians.

Outlook

Combining the outcomes of the two study parts will allow us to better understand, interpret, and finally translate the findings on mobility patterns as well as desired and actual life-space into practically usable treatment recommendations that clinicians can implement to improve the rehabilitation of stroke patients. The knowledge gained through the proposed project might help empowering patients and enable an individualization of the recovery process of stroke survivors in the future. That way, the proposed project aims to expand the practical value of the current knowledgebase and translate the research results into practice.

Project lead & coordination

PD Dr. Roland Rössler (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)

Project partners

Prof. Dr. Stefan Engelter (University Center for Medicine of Aging FELIX PLATTER, Basel; Department of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital Basel)

PD Dr. Timo Hinrichs (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)

Prof. Dr. Nils Peters (University Center for Medicine of Aging FELIX PLATTER, Basel; Department of Neurology & Stroke Center, University Hospital Basel; Stroke Center Klinik Hirslanden Zurich)

Prof. Dr. Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)

Dr. Corina Schuster-Amft (Reha Rheinfelden)

Funding

Forschungsfonds Universität Basel

Duration

2022