Post stroke intervention trial in fatigue (POSITIF): Randomised multicentre feasibility trial

Gillian Mead, David Gillespie, Mark Barber, Allan House, Steff C Lewis, Hannah Ensor, Simiao Wu, Trudie Chalder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To test the feasibility of a telephone delivered intervention, informed by cognitive behavioural principles, for post-stroke fatigue, and estimated its effect on fatigue and other outcomes.

Design: Randomised controlled parallel group trial.

Setting: Three Scottish stroke services.

Subjects: Stroke survivors with fatigue three months to two years post-stroke onset.

Interventions: Seven telephone calls (fortnightly then a 'booster session' at 16 weeks) of a manualised intervention, plus information about fatigue, versus information only.

Main measures: Feasibility of trial methods, and collected outcome measures (fatigue, mood, anxiety, social participation, quality of life, return to work) just before randomisation, at the end of treatment (four months after randomisation) and at six months after randomisation.

Results: Between October 2018 and January 2020, we invited 886 stroke survivors to participate in postal screening: 188/886 (21%) returned questionnaires and consented, of whom 76/188 (40%) were eligible and returned baseline forms; 64/76 (84%) returned six month follow-up questionnaires. Of the 39 allocated the intervention, 23 (59%) attended at least four sessions. At six months, there were no significant differences between the groups (adjusted mean differences in Fatigue Assessment Scale -0.619 (95% CI -4.9631, 3.694; p = 0.768), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 -0.178 (95% CI -3.823, 3.467, p = 0.92), and the Patient Health Questionnaire -0.247 (95% CI -2.935, 2.442, p = 0.851). There were no between-group differences in quality of life, social participation or return to work.

Conclusion: Patients can be recruited to a trial of this design. These data will inform the design of further trials in post-stroke fatigue.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1578-1589
JournalClinical Rehabilitation
Volume36
Issue number12
Early online date21 Jul 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2022

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Fatigue/etiology
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Stroke/complications

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