Rehabilitation Habits and Roles: The Dual Impact of IADLs and Psychosocial Interventions Poststroke

Background: This randomized study assessed an 8-week program for stroke survivors at an outpatient center in the United States. The program focuses on a holistic approach to recovery through habits and roles. Method: Two researchers randomly divided 19 participants (N = 19) into two groups, with each group focusing on two distinct programs: the Occupational Therapy Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) program and the Psychosocial Modules (PS) program for stroke survivors. Participants attended weekly group sessions and individual phone sessions, which reinforced learned strategies, provided personalized guidance, and ensured adherence to program goals. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), along with pre and postintervention surveys, assessed satisfaction, performance, and understanding of habits and roles, emphasizing new role creation, active participation, and preventative care. Results: The study revealed significant improvements in pre and postintervention performance and satisfaction scores on the COPM. The IADLs module, which targeted financial literacy and caregiver engagement, significantly enhanced participants' knowledge of creating new roles (p = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 0.85), indicating a large effect size and aimed to increase independence and reduce caregiver burden. The PS module increased awareness of preventative care (p = 0.009). Although no significant difference was observed between the IADLs and PS groups, this may be a result of overlapping intervention benefits or the small sample size, which limits statistical power. Conclusion: The observed improvement in COPM scores highlights the effectiveness of a comprehensive rehabilitation approach, aligning with previous research in stroke recovery.