Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acceptability, test-retest reliability and validity of
the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke monitoring tool. DESIGN: A questionnaire
pack was posted to stroke survivors living at home three or six months after
stroke. A second pack was sent two weeks after receipt of the completed first
pack. SETTING: Stroke survivors living at home across England. SUBJECTS: Stroke
survivors were recruited from 40 hospitals across England, in two phases. The
first with an optimal cohort of patients, the second to capture a broader
post-stroke population, including those with communication and/or cognitive
difficulties. Patients were excluded if they required palliative care or if
permanent discharge to a nursing or residential home was planned. MAIN MEASURES:
The questionnaire pack included the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke tool,
General Health Questionnaire-12, Frenchay Activities Index, and Short Form-12.
RESULTS: Interim analysis of phase 1 data (n = 350) indicated that the tool was
sufficiently robust to progress to phase 2 (n = 500). Results are reported on the
combined study population. Of 850 patients recruited, 199 (23%) had communication
and/or cognitive difficulties. The median age was 73 years (range 28-98).
Questionnaire pack return rate was 69%. For the new tool, there was 3.5% missing
data and test-retest reliability was moderate to good (percentage item agreement
78-99%, kappa statistic 0.45-0.67). Identification of an unmet need was
consistently associated with poorer outcomes on concurrent measures. CONCLUSIONS:
The Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke tool is acceptable, reliable, can be
self-completed, and used to identify longer-term unmet needs after stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS