The Stroke and Carer Optimal Health Program (SCOHP) to enhance psychosocial health: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Stroke is a leading cause of disability and distress, and often profoundly affects the quality of life of stroke survivors and their carers. With the support of carers, many stroke survivors are returning to live in the community despite the presence of disability and ongoing challenges. The sudden and catastrophic changes caused by stroke affects the mental, emotional and social health of both stroke survivors and carers. The aim of this study is to evaluate a Stroke and Carer Optimal Health Program (SCOHP) that adopts a person-centred approach and engages collaborative therapy to educate, support and improve the psychosocial health of stroke survivors and their carers.



This study is a prospective randomised controlled trial. It will include a total of 168 stroke survivors and carers randomly allocated into an intervention group (SCOHP) or a control group (usual care). Participants randomised to the intervention group will receive nine (8 + 1 booster) sessions guided by a structured workbook. The primary outcome measures for stroke survivors and carers will be health-related quality of life (AQoL-6D and EQ-5D) and self-efficacy (GSE). Secondary outcome measures will include: anxiety and depression (HADS); coping (Brief COPE); work and social adjustment (WSAS); carer strain (MCSI); carer satisfaction (CASI); and treatment evaluation (TEI-SF and CEQ). Process evaluation and a health economic cost analysis will also be conducted.



We believe that this is an innovative intervention that engages the stroke survivor and carer and will be significant in improving the psychosocial health, increasing independence and reducing treatment-related costs in this vulnerable patient-carer dyad. In addition, we expect that the intervention will assist carers and stroke survivors to negotiate the complexity of health services across the trajectory of care and provide practical skills to improve self-management.



ACTRN12615001046594 . Registered on 7 October 2015.
Centre for the Heart and Mind, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
Catherine
C
Brasier
Centre for the Heart and Mind, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. Chantal.Ski@acu.edu.au.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia. Chantal.Ski@acu.edu.au.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia. Chantal.Ski@acu.edu.au.
Chantal F
CF
Ski
Centre for the Heart and Mind, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
David R
DR
Thompson
Centre for the Heart and Mind, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
Jan
J
Cameron
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.
Casey L
CL
O'Brien
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.|NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia.
Nicola T
NT
Lautenschlager
Department of Neurology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.
Graeme
G
Gonzales
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
Ya-Seng Arthur
YS
Hsueh
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.
Gaye
G
Moore
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.|Department of Psychology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia.
Simon R
SR
Knowles
Department of Psychology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia.
Susan L
SL
Rossell
Centre for the Heart and Mind, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.
Rachel
R
Haselden
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.|Mental Health Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia.
David J
DJ
Castle
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017048:Health Care Costs; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012107:Research Design; D020377:Self Efficacy; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria
Carer; Collaborative therapy; Cost-effectiveness; Dyad; Psychosocial; Randomised controlled trial; Stroke