Purpose: To assess the presence of upper extremity pain after stroke over time and the course of its intensity in patients with persistent pain. Materials and methods: Patients with stroke... Show morePurpose: To assess the presence of upper extremity pain after stroke over time and the course of its intensity in patients with persistent pain. Materials and methods: Patients with stroke completed a question on the presence of upper extremity pain (yes/no) and rated its intensity with a visual analogue scale (0-10) at 3, 18, and 30 months after starting multidisciplinary rehabilitation. The presence of upper extremity pain and its intensity over time were analysed with Generalized Estimating Equations models and Linear Mixed Models, respectively. Results: 678 patients were included. The proportions of patients reporting upper extremity pain were 41.8, 36.0, and 32.7% at 3, 18, and 30 months, respectively, with the decline in proportions reaching statistical significance (odds ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.92, p < 0.001). At all time points, in those reporting pain the median intensity was 5.0 (interquartile ranges (IQR) 4.0-7.0 at 3 and 3.0-6.0 at 18 and 30 months). In the 73 patients with persistent pain, there was no significant change in intensity over time. Conclusions: The proportion of patients reporting upper extremity pain after stroke was considerable, despite a significant decrease in 2.5 years. In patients reporting persistent pain, the intensity did not change over time. Show less
Brouns, B.; Meesters, J.J.L.; Kloet, A.J. de; Vlieland, T.P.M.V.; Houdijk, S.; Arwert, H.J.; Bodegom-Vos, L. van 2022
Background Implementation of an eRehabilitation intervention named Fit After Stroke @Home (Fast@home) - including cognitive/physical exercise applications, activity-tracking, psycho-education -... Show moreBackground Implementation of an eRehabilitation intervention named Fit After Stroke @Home (Fast@home) - including cognitive/physical exercise applications, activity-tracking, psycho-education - after stroke resulted in health-related improvements. This study investigated what worked and why in the implementation. Methods Implementation activities (information provision, integration of Fast@home, instruction and motivation) were performed for 14 months and evaluated, using the Medical Research Council framework for process evaluations which consists of three evaluation domains (implementation, mechanisms of impact and contextual factors). Implementation activities were evaluated by field notes/surveys/user data, it's mechanisms of impact by surveys and contextual factors by field notes/interviews among 11 professionals. Surveys were conducted among 51 professionals and 73 patients. User data (n = 165 patients) were extracted from the eRehabilitation applications. Results Implementation activities were executed as planned. Of the professionals trained to deliver the intervention (33 of 51), 25 (75.8%) delivered it. Of the 165 patients, 82 (49.7%) were registered for Fast@home, with 54 patient (65.8%) using it. Mechanisms of impact showed that professionals and patients were equally satisfied with implementation activities (median score 7.0 [IQR 6.0-7.75] versus 7.0 [6.0-7.5]), but patients were more satisfied with the intervention (8.0 [IQR 7.0-8.0] versus 5.5 [4.0-7.0]). Guidance by professionals was seen as most impactful for implementation by patients and support of clinical champions and time given for training by professionals. Professionals rated the integration of Fast@home as insufficient. Contextual factors (financial cutbacks and technical setbacks) hampered the implementation. Conclusion Main improvements of the implementation of eRehabilitation are related to professionals' perceptions of the intervention, integration of eRehabilitation and contextual factors.Implication for rehabilitation To increase the use of eRehabilitation by patients, patients should be supported by their healthcare professional in their first time use and during the rehabilitation process. To increase the use of eRehabilitation by healthcare professionals, healthcare professionals should be (1) supported by a clinical champion and (2) provided with sufficient time for learning to work and getting familiar with the eRehabilitation program. Integration of eRehabilitation in conventional stroke rehabilitation (optimal blended care) is an important challenge and a prerequisite for the implementation of eRehabilitation in the clinical setting. Show less
Objective: To compare the effect on disability and quality of life, of conventional rehabilitation (control group) with individualized, tailored eRehabilitation intervention alongside conventional... Show moreObjective: To compare the effect on disability and quality of life, of conventional rehabilitation (control group) with individualized, tailored eRehabilitation intervention alongside conventional rehabilitation (Fast@home; intervention group), for people with stroke.Methods: Pre-post design. The intervention comprised cognitive (Braingymmer (R)) and physical (Telere-validatie (R)/Physitrack (R)) exercises, activity-tracking (Activ8 (R)) and psycho-education. Assessments were made at admission (T0) and after 3 (T3) and 6 months (T6). The primary outcome concerned disability (Stroke Impact Scale; SIS). Secondary outcomes were: health-related qual-ity of life, fatigue, self-management, participation and physical activity. Changes in scores be-tween T0-T3, T3-T6, and T0-T6 were compared by analysis of variance and linear mixed models.Results: The study included 153 and 165 people with stroke in the control and intervention groups, respectively. In the intervention group, 82 (50%) people received the intervention, of whom 54 (66%) used it. Between T3 and T6, the change in scores for the SIS subscales Communication (control group/ intervention group -1.7/-0.3) and Physical strength (-5.7/3.3) were significantly greater in the total intervention group (all mean differences< minimally clinically important differences). No significant differences were found for other SIS subscales or secondary outcomes, or between T0-T3 and T0-T6.Conclusion: eRehabilitation alongside conventional stroke rehabilitation had a small positive effect on communication and physical strength on the longer term, compared to conventional rehabilitation only. Show less
Allonsius, F.; Kloet, A.J. de; Markus-Doornbosch, F. van; Meesters, J.J.L.; Kromme, C.H.; Vlieland, T.P.M.V.; Holst, M. van der 2021
Purpose: To increase knowledge/awareness on family impact (FI) after acquired brain injury (ABI) in rehabilitation settings, it is essential to investigate the associations between patient... Show morePurpose: To increase knowledge/awareness on family impact (FI) after acquired brain injury (ABI) in rehabilitation settings, it is essential to investigate the associations between patient-functioning and impact on families. This has been explored in hospital-based cohorts, but not in rehabilitation settings.Methods: A cross-sectional, multi-center study among parents of children/young adults (aged 57-<24 years) with ABI referred to rehabilitation was performed. Patient/injury/family-characteristics were noted, and parents completed the PedsQL (TM) Family-Impact-Module and PedsQL (TM) generic-core-4.0 to assess FI and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Univariate- and multivariable-regression analyses were performed to investigate associations between HRQoL/patient/injury/family-related factors and FI.Results: 246 families participated; patients' median age was 14 year (IQR 117-<16), 65 had non-traumatic-brain-injury (nTBI) (26%), 127 were female. FI was found to be considerable (median FIM-score 71.9, IQR:60-85). Especially referral to rehabilitation >6 months after onset, diminished patients' mental/emotional health and HRQoL (child/family factors), and premorbid problems were associated with higher FI.Conclusions: In this rehabilitation cohort, pediatric ABI caused considerably higher FI than in hospital-based studies with referral to rehabilitation >6 months, diminished child/family factors and presence of premorbid problems increasing FI. Assessing and monitoring FI and its associated factors enables professionals to individualize treatment, psychoeducation, support and follow-up. Show less
Holst, M. van der; Steenbeek, D.; Pondaag, W.; Nelissen, R.G.H.H.; Vlieland, T.P.M.V. 2020
To investigate health-care use (HCU) and information needs of children aged 0-18 years with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP), a cross-sectional study was performed. Patients and/or parents... Show moreTo investigate health-care use (HCU) and information needs of children aged 0-18 years with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP), a cross-sectional study was performed. Patients and/or parents seen in our NBPP clinic were invited to complete a survey comprising questions on HCU due to NBPP and current information needs. Outcomes were described for three age-groups (0-1/2-9/10-18 years), based on follow-up status (early/late/no-discharge). Four hundred sixty-five parents/patients participated (59 in the 0-1, 226 in the 2-9, and 180 in the 10-18-year group). Two hundred ninety-three patients had C5-C6 lesions, 193 were discharged from follow-up, 83 of whom categorized as 'early discharged' (<1 year of age). Over the past year, 198 patients had contact with the expert team (49 in the 0-1, 81 in the 2-9, and 68 in the 10-18-year group) and 288 with at least one other health-care professional (53 in the 0-1, 133 in the 2-9, and 102 in the 10-18-year group). Of the 83 patients discharged early, 34 reported health-care use. Two hundred twenty-eight participants reported current information needs of whom 23 were discharged early. HCU and information needs of Dutch children with NBPP remains considerable even in children who were discharged. Stricter follow-up and information provision for these patients is needed. Show less
Holst, M. van der; Groot, J.; Steenbeek, D.; Pondaag, W.; Nelissen, R.G.H.H.; Vlieland, T.P.M.V. 2018
