Abstract WP184: The Road to Recovery Stroke Support Group: A Feasibility Assessment of an Inpatient Multi-Disciplinary Stroke Support Group

Abstract

Background: Stroke is life changing for both patients and caregivers. Recovery from stroke affects the physical, social and emotional aspects of life. Transitioning to a new normal should begin immediately after stroke, ideally during hospital admission. Most support groups exist outside of the hospital setting and begin weeks to months after the ictus. The Road to Recovery Stroke Support Group (RRSSG) was created to bridge the gap between the inpatient and outpatient setting. Purpose: RRSSG aims to provide a weekly platform for stroke survivors and caregivers in an in-hospital setting. During sessions, attendees learn about types of challenges after stroke, rehabilitation services available to them and what to expect after leaving the hospital. Patients can return to the same support group once discharged from the hospital. Methods: RRSSG was launched in November 2018. Candidates for the weekly RRSSG meeting were identified by nurses and the stroke case manager. Meetings were facilitated by a stroke survivor volunteer, case management and physical and social medicine. Invitations were extended to patients and their caregivers prior to discharge. Data were collected for 7 months and analyzed for the following: patient demographics, types of stroke and discharge disposition. Results: During the 7-month period, 514 patients were discharged with a stroke diagnosis, 24.3% of which attended the RRSSG. The demographics were 53.7% women with a median age of 66 years; 33.1% White/European, 36% Hispanic/Latino, 18.0% African American, 10.8% Asian, and 2.1% other. 61.6% had an ischemic stroke, 30.4% had an intracerebral hemorrhage, 11.2% had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. More patients who attended RRSSG were discharged to an acute rehabilitation hospital (6.5% RRSG vs. 1.8% non-RRSG, p=0.04). There was no difference in those discharged to: home (54.0% RRSSG vs. 55.5% non-RRSSG) and skilled nursing facility (27.3% RRSSG vs. 20.1% non-RRSSG). Conclusion: Creating and sustaining an inpatient multi-disciplinary stroke support group on a weekly basis is feasible. The future goals are to assess the impact of the in-hospital support group on stroke knowledge retention, medication compliance, post-stroke depression, recurrent stroke and re-admission rates.