NCT00384748

Home-based Telehealth Stroke Care: A Randomized Trial for Veterans

Home-Based Tele-Health Stroke Care: A Randomized Trial for Veterans

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 45 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of the proposed study is to examine a Tele-rehabilitation (TR) intervention that uses tele-health technology to improve outcomes of stroke patients after discharge to home. The primary aim is to determine the effect of TR on physical function, and secondarily to determine the effect on disability, falls-related self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction.

Detailed description

Stroke patients clearly benefit from intensive, coordinated, inpatient care. At the same time, there is considerable interest in ways to reduce hospital lengths of stay. Early discharge rehabilitation programs require coordinated, well-organized home-based rehabilitation, and lack of sufficient information about the home setting impedes successful rehabilitation. Unfortunately, resources for in-home rehabilitation are limited. The goal of TR is to improve functional mobility using a multifaceted rehabilitation intervention via two types of telehealth technology. Tele-video is used to carry out an in-home assessment of functional mobility, to make treatment recommendations, and to provide periodic goal-oriented reassessment, modifying the treatment plan as the patient improves. Tele-video uses a video camera with a home health aide in the patient's home to provide visual and audio to a therapist located at the base hospital. It is used to carry out an in-home assessment of functional mobility, to make treatment recommendations, and to provide periodic goal-oriented reassessment, modifying the treatment plan as the patient improves. An interactive, in-home messaging device is used to facilitate adherence with treatment recommendations and to screen for interval problems (depression, falls, and difficulty with self-care). This is a Phase II, 2-arm, 3-site Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). A total of 120 veterans with recent onset of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke who are discharged to the community will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (a) TR; and (b) Usual Care. Dependent variables (physical function, disability, falls-related self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction) will be measured at baseline, 3-, and 6-months via telephone interviews by the study coordinator located at the CIEBP who will be blinded to the study group assignment of the patient.

Conditions

• Cerebrovascular Accident

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	TR intervention	The 3 tele-visits will occur within 5 weeks post randomization. Telephone call visits will occur during weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12. One additional tele-visit may be scheduled as needed. The first visit is devoted to mobility assessment, goal-setting. The second visit is to review the current exercise component. Visit 3 focuses on functional mobility using adaptive strategy component.
BEHAVIORAL	In-home messaging device.	The purpose of this aspect of the intervention is to screen for unforeseen problems and to reinforce adherence to the recommended treatment. It will be used to interface with patients daily, but briefly. The in-home messaging device, which resembles a caller ID box is attached to the home telephone line and electrical outlet. Installation of the equipment involves connecting it to the phone line and plugging it into an electrical outlet. The teletherapist receives the clinical data from the in-home messaging device via the internet on a daily basis. It is used to screen for depression, lower extremity strength, self-care tasks and mobility, falls and exercise adherence.
BEHAVIORAL	Usual care	Routine VA care.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-11-01
• Primary completion: 2010-12-01
• Completion: 2011-06-01
• First posted: 2006-10-06
• Last updated: 2014-11-24
• Results posted: 2014-11-10

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: United States