Feasibility and Acceptability of the Living My Life Program for Rural and Remote Stroke Survivors

OBJECTIVE: Determine feasibility and acceptability of the Living My Life Program from the perspective of rural and remote stroke survivors and identify refinements required. SETTING: Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Adults diagnosed with stroke > 6 months prior, living at home, and willing to use videoconferencing technology. DESIGN: Pragmatic mixed methods multiple case study design, incorporating elements of grounded theory and action research. INTERVENTION: Twelve-week online program designed to support stroke survivors to recover their way, in their world, using technology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Feasibility (Q1-3) and acceptability (Q4) were assessed according to minimum success criteria to answer the following key questions: were stroke survivors able to: (Q1) participate in the Program as intended? (Q2) use technology to participate? (Q3) measure their progress according to what mattered to them? and (Q4) did stroke survivors find the Program acceptable? RESULTS: Four of 5 participants completed the Program using everyday technologies; one did not complete due to illness. Participants measured their progress using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale, with improvement reported in ≥ 1 goal(s). The Program was highly acceptable (Acceptability of Intervention Measure: median 20/20, range 18-20). Participants felt they could fit the Program into their lives easily, enabling them to drive their recovery and make progress towards what mattered to them. Refinements were incorporated during piloting or noted for future development. CONCLUSION: The Living My Life Program was feasible and acceptable from the rural and remote stroke survivors' perspective. The next step is to offer the Program to stroke survivors from diverse cultures and with varying stroke-related impairments and severity to determine its broader applicability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier number: ACTRN12622000967785.