Abstract WP309: Enhancing Stroke Recovery Through Structured Support Group Interventions

Background: Established in 2022, our Stroke Support Group has maintained consistent attendance and engagement over the years. We attribute this success to a multidisciplinary team of facilitators, ongoing communication, and the provision of relevant resources. The team includes a Stroke Program Outreach Coordinator, a Neurologist and Stroke Survivor, an Occupational Therapist from a partner rehabilitation facility, and a resiliency educator with training in public health and counseling. This diverse expertise enables us to address the medical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of stroke survivors holistically. Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and impact of our stroke support group meetings and accompanying resource newsletter. Methods: Promotion of the group occurs across multiple touchpoints, including our outpatient clinic, inpatient rehabilitation units, and the American Heart Association’s Stroke Support Group Finder website. Sessions alternate between structured topics—such as healthy lifestyle strategies and survivor-requested themes—and informal roundtable discussions. A popular format is the “Peach and Pit of the Month,” where participants share personal highlights and challenges in a supportive environment. Additionally, a resource email newsletter is sent out every month that highlights a feature of the month, as well as ongoing resources for stroke survivors and caregivers. We conducted a retrospective review of the past year’s support group attendance records and analyzed engagement metrics from our monthly electronic newsletter, including open and click-through rates. Results: Attendance at support group meetings consistently exceeded 20 participants, including both survivors and caregivers (see Table 1). Newsletter engagement metrics were notably higher than industry benchmarks: open rates consistently surpassed 60% (industry average: 34%), and click-through rates ranged from 8% to 18% (industry average: 1%) (see Tables 2 and 3). Conclusion: Our Stroke Support Group has demonstrated sustained engagement through both in-person meetings and virtual outreach. Our efforts can be duplicated by other Stroke Programs. Continued efforts will focus on tailoring content to participant needs and expanding outreach to new survivors and caregivers.