Media release

From: PLOS

Online program improves well-being of stroke survivors

Study found that interactive, tailored healthy lifestyle program had positive effect on self-reported health and well-being

Access to an online program that provides easily accessible, interactive, tailored healthy lifestyle and behavior change techniques was associated with better health-related quality of life among adult stroke survivors, according to a new study publishing April 19th in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Ashleigh Guillaumier of the University of Newcastle, Australia, and colleagues.

Stroke can lead to serious consequences for those that survive in terms of physical and cognitive disability. Improving lifestyle and health risk behaviors—including tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity, diet, depression, and anxiety—has the potential to significantly enhance stroke survivors’ quality of life.

In the new study, researchers randomized 399 adult stroke survivors to complete a telephone survey and then either receive a list of generic health information websites or receive 12 weeks of access to the online program “Prevent 2nd Stroke” (P2S), which encourages users to set goals and monitor progress across various health risk areas. The group with P2S access received additional text messages encouraging use of the program. 356 participants (89%) completed a follow-up survey six months later.

At the six-month follow up, the median between group difference in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) score was higher in the group with P2S access (85 vs 80, difference=5, 95% CI 0.79-9.21, p=0.020). Compared to those in the control group, significantly higher proportions of people in the group who received access to P2S reported having no problems with personal care (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.05-4.48, p=0.0359) and an ability to participate in their usual daily activities (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.06-2.60, p=0.0256). The main limitation of the study is that most participants were generally “well” stroke survivors, with little to no disability, and the findings may therefore not be generalizable to all stroke survivors.

Guillaumier adds, “Online platforms are a viable and impactful model to address the health information needs and behavior change challenges of stroke survivors.”