Developing and testing the feasibility of a new internet-based intervention-A case study of people with stroke and occupational therapists

• Published in: PloS one 2023-12, Vol.18 (12), p.e0296364-e0296364
• Main Authors: Barcheus, Ida-Maria, Ranner, Maria, Nyman, Anneli, Månsson Lexell, Eva, Larsson-Lund, Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptability; Arbetsterapi; Care and treatment; Case studies; Clients; Computer and Information Sciences; Consent; Data analysis; Data collection; Diagnosis; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Empowerment; Engineering and Technology; Evaluation; Feasibility; Feasibility Studies; Forecasts and trends; Health Sciences; Hospitals; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Internet; Internet access; Internet-Based Intervention; Intervention; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical care; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine and Health Sciences; Occupational Therapists; Occupational Therapy; Pattern analysis; Pattern matching; Quality management; Rehabilitation; Research and Analysis Methods; Sex; Stroke; Stroke (Disease); Stroke - therapy; Stroke Rehabilitation - methods; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296364

Internet-based interventions are called for within rehabilitation to meet the limited access to support for self-management after stroke. Therefore, a new intervention program, "Strategies for Empowering activities in Everyday life" (SEE) was developed. The aim of this study was to explore and describe how clients with stroke and their occupational therapists experienced the SEE intervention process and whether SEE has the potential to promote an active everyday life. A qualitative descriptive case study was designed. Four people with stroke (two of each sex, mean age 66,5 years) and their two occupational therapists (one of each sex) were included. A mix of data collection methods as interviews, assessments, registration forms and fieldnotes was used to uncover the participants' experiences and potential changes. Data were analysed with pattern matching. The analysed data formed three categories: "Not being able to take on the internet-based intervention", "Being facilitated in the change process of everyday life through the internet-based intervention", and "Providing a new internet-based intervention is a transition from ordinary practice". These categories included two to four subcategories that reflected aspects of SEE feasibility and acceptability with a focus on content and delivery. The first test of the intervention indicates that the content and delivery of SEE can be feasible and acceptable both for clients and occupational therapists. The findings suggest that SEE has the potential to support clients' self-reflections and their adoption of strategies that influence engagement in daily activities and satisfaction with life in various ways. Further research with large-scale studies is needed.