Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

An occupational therapy intervention for residents with stroke related disabilities in UK care homes (OTCH): cluster randomised controlled trial

Sackley, Catherine M.; Walker, Marion F.; Burton, Christopher R.; Watkins, Caroline L.; Mant, Jonathan; Roalfe, Andrea K.; Wheatley, Keith; Sheehan, Bart; Sharp, Leslie; Stant, Katie E.; Fletcher-Smith, Joanna C.; Steel, Kerry; Wilde, Kate; Irvine, Lisa; Peryer, Guy

An occupational therapy intervention for residents with stroke related disabilities in UK care homes (OTCH): cluster randomised controlled trial Thumbnail


Authors

Catherine M. Sackley

Marion F. Walker

Christopher R. Burton

Caroline L. Watkins

Jonathan Mant

Andrea K. Roalfe

Keith Wheatley

Bart Sheehan

Leslie Sharp

Katie E. Stant

Joanna C. Fletcher-Smith

Kerry Steel

Kate Wilde

Lisa Irvine

Guy Peryer



Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of an established programme of occupational therapy in maintaining functional activity and reducing further health risks from inactivity in care home residents living with stroke sequelae.
Design: Pragmatic, parallel group, cluster randomised controlled trial.
Setting: 228 care homes (>10 beds each), both with and without the provision of nursing care, local to 11 trial administrative centres across the United Kingdom.
Participants: 1042 care home residents with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack, including those with language and cognitive impairments, not receiving end of life care. 114 homes (n=568 residents, 64% from homes providing nursing care) were allocated to the intervention arm and 114 homes (n=474 residents, 65% from homes providing nursing care) to standard care (control arm). Participating care homes were randomised between May 2010 and March 2012.
Intervention: Targeted three month programme of occupational therapy, delivered by qualified occupational therapists and assistants, involving patient centred goal setting, education of care home staff, and adaptations to the environment.
Main outcome measures: Primary outcome at the participant level: scores on the Barthel index of activities of daily living at three months post-randomisation. Secondary outcome measures at the participant level: Barthel index scores at six and 12 months post-randomisation, and scores on the Rivermead mobility index, geriatric depression scale-15, and EuroQol EQ-5D-3L questionnaire, at all time points.
Results: 64% of the participants were women and 93% were white, with a mean age of 82.9 years. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups for all measures, personal characteristics, and diagnostic tests. Overall, 2538 occupational therapy visits were made to 498 participants in the intervention arm (mean 5.1 visits per participant). No adverse events attributable to the intervention were recorded. 162 (11%) died before the primary outcome time point, and 313 (30%) died over the 12 months of the trial. The primary outcome measure did not differ significantly between the treatment arms. The adjusted mean difference in Barthel index score at three months was 0.19 points higher in the intervention arm (95% confidence interval −0.33 to 0.70, P=0.48). Secondary outcome measures also showed no significant differences at all time points.
Conclusions: This large phase III study provided no evidence of benefit for the provision of a routine occupational therapy service, including staff training, for care home residents living with stroke related disabilities. The established three month individualised course of occupational therapy targeting stroke related disabilities did not have an impact on measures of functional activity, mobility, mood, or health related quality of life, at all observational time points. Providing and targeting ameliorative care in this clinically complex population requires alternative strategies.

Citation

Sackley, C. M., Walker, M. F., Burton, C. R., Watkins, C. L., Mant, J., Roalfe, A. K., …Peryer, G. (2015). An occupational therapy intervention for residents with stroke related disabilities in UK care homes (OTCH): cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 350(feb05), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h468

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 22, 2014
Online Publication Date Feb 5, 2015
Publication Date Feb 5, 2015
Deposit Date Oct 31, 2016
Publicly Available Date Oct 31, 2016
Journal BMJ
Print ISSN 0959-8138
Electronic ISSN 1756-1833
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 350
Issue feb05
Article Number h468
Pages 1-11
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h468
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/745527
Publisher URL http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h468
Contract Date Oct 31, 2016

Files





Downloadable Citations