ACTIV: A stroke telerehabilitation intervention
Organisation: Auckland University of Technology
Project is completed
The demand for rehabilitation outstrips the capacity to deliver it in a traditional, clinical, one-on-one setting. The addition of the challenges of COVID-19 and resulting reductions in in-person contact has raised the profile of telerehabilitation. The Augmented Community Telerehabilitation Intervention (ACTIV) programme is a structured 6 month programme with a minimal number of in-person visits combined with a training manual, telephone calls and text messaging. Our randomised controlled trial recruited 95 people across New Zealand to usual care or ACTIV. The intention to treat analysis showed there was no difference in physical function in the groups but there was a significant difference in participation and quality of life, with those receiving the ACTIV intervention doing better. When we looked at those participants who received at least half of the ACTIV intervention there was a statistically significantly improved physical function compared to the controls. The ACTIV intervention is an evidence based structured telerehabilitaiton intervention that can improve outcomes for people after stroke.
Published paper
Saywell, N. L., Vandal, A. C., Mudge, S., Hale, L., Brown, P., Feigin, V., Hanger, C., & Taylor, D. (2021). Telerehabilitation After Stroke Using Readily Available Technology: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 35(1), 88–97.
If you would like more information about this project, please email us.