Oral Presentation Smart Strokes Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

The ‘Adherence Counselling Toolkit’ (ACT now) to promote recovery after stroke: the process of using stakeholder feedback and a socially inclusive designer to develop the toolkit. (106852)

Tamina Levy 1 2 , Elizabeth Lynch 1 , Lucy Lewis 3 , Kelly Huxley 3 , Saran Chamberlain 3
  1. Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. Division of Rehabilitation and Palliative Services, Flinders Medical Centre, adelaide, SA, Australia
  3. Flinders University, adelaide, SA, Australia

Introduction: The World Health Organisation recommend the development of ‘adherence counselling toolkits’ to support health professionals assist clients to self-manage chronic conditions, however, to date such resources do not exist for health professionals working with survivors of stroke. Building on previous stages (co-design) of the study, the aim was to engage key stakeholders and work with a socially inclusive designer to develop a paper-based and online version of the toolkit.

Methods: A Stakeholder Working Group was formed, incorporating health professionals, survivors of stroke and their carers. In a hybrid meeting, findings from focus groups were presented, alongside four ‘example’ health-based toolkits. Essential, desirable, and non-desirable toolkit design, content and format features were explored. The researchers engaged a socially inclusive designer, Blend Creative, and participated in cycles of stakeholder feedback and toolkit updates.

Results: Eight key stakeholders worked alongside the research team and a socially inclusive designer to develop the final version of the ACT now Toolkit. An online interactive toolkit was created to support health professionals to assess survivors’ readiness to change and identify barriers to engaging with activity and create a tailored plan to enhance adherence with prescribed rehabilitation activities. Health professionals are guided to develop an Action Plan for survivors who are ready to change or are ready to identify their barriers and enablers, or a Full Behaviour Change Plan for survivors who are not ready to change.

Conclusion: The ACT now Toolkit. has now been developed, has undergone user testing and will now be evaluated in a Hybrid Type 2 implementation-effectiveness study.

Relevance to clinical practice or patient experience: The Act now Toolkit is a comprehensive and practical resource that will assist health professionals develop individualised exercise programs for their clients, thereby promoting long-term adherence, increased activity levels and better health outcomes for survivors of stroke.