The StrokeCog partnership: effective intervention through collaboration

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and will increase considerably in coming decades as people live for longer. Many people are aware of physical disabilities after stroke, but are less aware of cognitive problems. These include difficulties with memory, concentration and abstract thinking, often experienced as the most debilitating consequences of stroke.



Rehabilitation of cognitive difficulties has received little attention compared with physical rehabilitation. The StrokeCog study aims to address this by developing and testing a rehabilitation intervention to improve cognitive function after stroke.



This award enables the team to develop novel ways to make the research findings widely available and receive input on current and future grant activities. Working with people who have experienced cognitive difficulties as a result of stroke, their family members, stroke physicians, rehabilitation experts and health policy makers, a range of activities are planned. An open forum will be held with patients and family members to discuss the StrokeCog study and best ways to communicate findings and ongoing study plans, including website development. A conference will be held involving patients and family members, along with national and international stroke experts, in presenting perspectives and current evidence, as well as holding discussion groups about key needs and next steps. Following the conference, a meeting will be held planning research on the introduction of rehabilitation for cognitive difficulties as a routine component of post-stroke care nationally. Outputs from the conference will be captured in a widely communicated policy document.

Award Date

28 September 2017

Award Value

€53325

Principal Investigator

Professor Anne Hickey

Host Institution

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Scheme

Knowledge Exchange and Dissemination Scheme