Building Capacity in the System to Support Persons With Stroke and Cognitive Impairment (CO-OP_KT)

Building Capacity in the System to Support Persons With Stroke and Cognitive Impairment: An Evidence-based, Multi-faceted, Knowledge Translation Approach

Patients with cognitive impairments following a stroke are often denied access to inpatient rehabilitation, despite evidence of its benefits for them. Patients with cognitive impairment who are admitted to inpatient stroke rehabilitation often receive services based on outdated impairment-reduction models, rather than recommended function-based approaches. These two issues, reduced access to rehabilitation and the knowledge-to-practice gap, both stem from a reported lack of skills and knowledge on the part of some stroke rehabilitation teams to foster recovery in people with cognitive impairments. To address these issues, the investigators will implement and evaluate a multi-faceted, supported, integrated knowledge translation initiative, targeted specifically at the inter-professional application of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP), called CO-OP KT. CO-OP is a contemporary, effective, cognitive strategy-based treatment approach. CO-OP KT is a combination of the CO-OP Approach with multi-faceted knowledge translation support. Clinical staff at participating institutions will receive CO-OP KT training.

The long-term objective of CO-OP KT is to optimize functional outcomes for individuals with stroke and cognitive impairments. Three specific research questions have been posed, one of which is the focus of this registration. That sub study relates to patient outcomes following the CO-OP KT training initiative and it will be addressed using a non-randomized design with historical controls. Patient participants who enroll in the project prior to implementing the CO-OP KT training will belong to the historical control group. Patient participants who enroll in the project after the CO-OP KT training will belong to the CO-OP KT Exposure group.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: CO-OP KT Exposure

Detailed Description

The investigative team will implement and evaluate a multi-faceted, supported, integrated knowledge translation initiative called CO-OP KT.

The long-term objective of CO-OP KT is to optimize functional outcomes for individuals with stroke and cognitive impairments. Three specific research questions are posed, one of which is the focus of this registration:

1. Is CO-OP KT associated with changes in activity, participation, and self-efficacy to perform daily activities in patients with cognitive impairment following stroke at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and at 1, 3, and 6-month follow-ups? The research question, which relates to patient outcomes, will be addressed using a non-randomized design with historical controls.

Recruitment:

Five inpatient stroke rehabilitation units or combined stroke/neurology units within the Toronto Stroke Networks have agreed to participate. It is estimated that the 5 units together will have approximately 80 admissions per month. Patients admitted to the inpatient stroke unit who have at least some cognitive impairment will be recruited. Cognitive impairment will be determined using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Patients with scores lower than 26 will be included. Based on data from a previously published study, a sample size of 13 per group will have 80% power to detect a between-group difference of 9 points on the FIM™, standard deviation of 8. Allowing for 30% attrition from all sources, the investigators will recruit 17 participants per group, 34 in total. Based on past experience, the investigators expect a consent rate of 1 participant per site per month. Thus, recruitment is highly feasible, and will likely be completed in 4 months for each group.

Data Analysis:

Descriptive statistics will be compiled for all quantitative data collected. Between- and within-group differences on the outcome measures will be examined using repeated measures ANOVA for the non-randomized trial of individual patients with historical controls.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 24

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6M 2J5
      • West Park Healthcare Centre
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2A2
      • Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M1L 1W1
      • Providence Healthcare
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M2M 2G1
      • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4M 2B5
      • Bridgepoint Active Healthcare

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit with a primary diagnosis of stroke and have a cognitive impairment.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients who score lower than 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Test (indicates some level of cognitive impairment)

Exclusion Criteria:

• neurological diagnoses other than stroke
• the presence of major psychiatric illness
• capacity issues requiring the use of a substitute decision maker under Ontario's Substitute Decision Maker Act

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Historical Control; Patient participants will be recruited from an inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit prior to introducing CO-OP KT training to the stroke team. Patient participants will receive Usual Care from their stroke team.
CO-OP KT Exposure group; Patient participants will be recruited from an inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit after the stroke team has been exposed to CO-OP KT training. Patient participants will receive Usual Care, augmented by CO-OP KT, from their stroke team.	Behavioral: CO-OP KT Exposure; Patient participants who receive therapy from clinicians who have received CO-OP KT training will belong to the CO-OP KT Exposure group. Patient participants will not receive treatment that is different from the treatment being offered to patients who do not enroll in the study. The CO-OP KT intervention is directed at the inpatient rehabilitation team. They will be trained in Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) and will also receive multi-faceted knowledge translation (KT) support.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Functional Independence Measure [FIM(TM)] score	A system of disability measurement that rates the level of a patient's disability on a 7 point scale and indicates how much assistance is required for each. Consists of 18 items, 7 points each, 13 of which form the motor sub scale and 5 of which form the cognitive sub scale.	A) Within 1 week of admission to inpatient rehabilitation, B) At least 72 hours before discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, C) 1 month post discharge, D) 3 months post discharge, and E) 6 months post discharge.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) score	The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is a standardized instrument for eliciting performance issues from the client perspective, and for capturing perceived changes in performance over time. A change of 2 points or more on the COPM is considered clinically significant.	A) Within 1 week of admission to inpatient rehabilitation, B) At least 72 hours before discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, C) 1 month post discharge, D) 3 months post discharge, and E) 6 months post discharge.
Change in Self-Efficacy Gauge (SEG) score	The Self-Efficacy Gauge (SEG) was designed to measure an individual's self-efficacy in his or her ability to perform daily occupations that span a range of self-care, productivity, and leisure activities. Participants are asked to rate their confidence in their ability to perform 28 items, each on a 10-point scale, with 1 representing "not confident at all" and 10 representing "completely confident".	A) Within 1 week of admission to inpatient rehabilitation, B) At least 72 hours before discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, C) 1 month post discharge, D) 3 months post discharge, and E) 6 months post discharge.
Change in Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) score	The Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) is a 59-item questionnaire about the perceived impact of stroke on function and everyday life. The SIS evaluates eight domains. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale related to the degree of difficulty the person with stroke is experiencing. The SIS is widely used in stroke intervention studies as an outcome measure and the psychometric properties of the instrument are well-defined.	A) Within 1 week of admission to inpatient rehabilitation, B) At least 72 hours before discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, C) 1 month post discharge, D) 3 months post discharge, and E) 6 months post discharge.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Collaborators: University Health Network, Toronto; University of Toronto; West Park Healthcare Centre; Sinai Health System; Providence Healthcare
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sara E McEwen, PhD, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Rios J, Linkewich E, Allen KA, Egan M, Dawson DR, Godleski M, Hunt A, Jutzi K, Quant S, McEwen SE. Lessons learned and functional outcomes following multifaceted team training in a cognitive strategy-based approach to stroke rehabilitation. JBI Evid Implement. 2022 Feb 14;20(1):33-43. doi: 10.1097/XEB.0000000000000308.
• Linkewich E, Avery L, Rios J, McEwen SE. Minimal Clinically Important Differences in Functional Independence After a Knowledge Translation Intervention in Stroke Rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Apr;101(4):587-591. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.10.185. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): August 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 30, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 3, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): November 5, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 20, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 19, 2018
• Last Verified: September 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stroke; rehabilitation; cognitive impairment; Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance; health services accessibility; integrated knowledge translation; interrupted time series; The CO-OP Approach
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Stroke; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: 177-2015; PHE-141799 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided