A quasi-experimental feasibility study to determine the effect of a systematic treatment programme on the scores of the Nottingham Adjustment Scale of individuals with visual field deficits following stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a systematic treatment programme developed by the researcher that targeted aspects of visual functioning affected by visual field deficits following stroke.


METHODS
The study design was a non-equivalent control (conventional) group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental feasibility design, using multisite data collection methods at specified stages.


METHODS
The study was undertaken within three acute hospital settings as outpatient follow-up sessions.


METHODS
Individuals who had visual field deficits three months post stroke were studied.


METHODS
A treatment group received routine occupational therapy and an experimental group received, in addition, a systematic treatment programme. The treatment phase of both groups lasted six weeks.


METHODS
The Nottingham Adjustment Scale, a measure developed specifically for visual impairment, was used as the primary outcome measure.


RESULTS
The change in Nottingham Adjustment Scale score was compared between the experimental (n = 7) and conventional (n = 8) treatment groups using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. The result of Z = -2.028 (P = 0.043) showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the change in Nottingham Adjustment Scale score between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of the systematic treatment programme resulted in a statistically significant change in the scores of the Nottingham Adjustment Scale.
Taylor
Lisa
L
School of Allied Health Professions (AHP) and Health and Social Science Research Institute, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. drlisataylor@aol.com
Poland
Fiona
F
Harrison
Peter
P
Stephenson
Richard
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*