Study of Individual Peer Support to Help Stroke Patients Adjust When Returning Home After Rehabilitation

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the impact of an individual peer support intervention for patients recovering from a stroke as they return home. The study aims to see if personalized support from trained patient-partners can improve quality of life and empower patients during the discharge period compared to usual care. This pilot study considers the challenges patients and families face with shortened hospital stays and the need for emotional and social support at home. Participants in the intervention group will receive peer support from trained peers for six months after discharge, with the frequency and number of contacts tailored to each patients needs. This support includes meetings before discharge and ongoing follow-up through face-to-face, virtual, or phone contact, focusing on helping patients manage their situation and connect with health and social resources. The control group will receive standard care and be contacted for data collection six months after returning home. Throughout the study, patients will be assessed on various measures including feasibility, quality of life, anxiety and depression, patient activation, disability, adherence to care, assistance received at home, satisfaction, and caregiver burden and satisfaction. Data collection will occur over a six-month period after discharge. This approach aims to understand how peer support affects both patients and their caregivers during recovery at home.

Evaluation of the Impact of an Individual Peer Support Intervention for Stroke Patients When Returning Home: a Mixed Methods Pilot Study