Introduction: Occupational Therapists at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH), Queensland, undertook research and knowledge translation (KT) activities to support stroke survivors and carers to self-manage upper limb (UL) recovery after stroke. This poster summarises 15 years of progress.
Methods: A descriptive study (2009-2012) recruited stroke survivors and carers (n = 22), physiotherapists and occupational therapists (n = 18). Results indicated a need for enhanced resources to engage patients and carers in self-administering arm recovery tasks. A knowledge translation (KT) project (2012-2021) used a Knowledge-to-Action framework to translate UL management recommendations from the Living Stroke Guidelines to the local context. This involved refining the ‘Caring for your Arm after Stroke’ package and embedding it in routine practice. A staff survey was administered in 2018 (n=6) and 2020 (n=8) to evaluate knowledge translation.
Results: The KT evaluation indicated improvements in 8 of 12 potential barriers to resource utilisation. The ‘Caring for your Arm after Stroke’ package now supports therapists to teach self-management practices in weekly UL groups and individual sessions in acute and rehabilitation settings. Clinicians codesign new content with consumers as new evidence-based modalities are adopted, such as mechanically-assisted devices. The program has been sustained over 15 years despite changes in staffing.
Conclusion: This program reflects an emergent change model where a resource has been linked to new and existing routine practices. Broad engagement (clinical and academic staff, students and consumers) and sustained project leadership are other enablers of change. Future challenges include embedding an ongoing quality improvement process that aligns package content with the evolving Stroke Guidelines, and adapting the content for diverse contexts such as in North West Queensland.
Relevance to clinical practice or patient experience: Long-term research and knowledge translation programs can be sustained within busy clinical environments through clear leadership and application of frameworks.