Stroke is the fourth leading cause of mortality in Hong Kong and a major cause of chronic disability. Survivors often struggle with multiple daily physical and psychosocial challenges after even a mild stroke, which may restrict their activity participation and compromise their health-related quality of life. International evidence-based clinical guidelines recommend self-management support to enhance post-stroke recovery. However, studies find stroke survivors to have lower self-efficacy when engaging in self-care. Moreover, as stroke self-management services in Hong Kong are held in group formats in community-based settings, accessibility concerns and limited individual support are significant barriers for survivors seeking post-stroke support.

We aim to meet stroke survivors’ recovery needs and improve their self-care abilities by providing an individual-, home-, and evidence-based support package comprising a stroke self-management programme (COMBO-KEY) and a virtual stroke care clinic (VMSCC). Stroke survivors with mild to moderate disability will be supported by the VMSCC while those with more severe impairments will be supported by the COMBO-KEY. We will train lay volunteers and peer stroke survivors to assist with the delivery of the support package. Mutually-agreed goal and action plans will be developed in collaboration with stroke survivors to enable self-practise of the newly-acquired self-management skills. Survivors will also nominate themselves as ambassadors to support programme expansion after completion.

We anticipate the project will improve survivors’ self-efficacy, self-management behaviours, and health-related quality of life. In the long run, these efforts will enhance post-stroke recovery and reduce hospital readmissions due to recurrent stroke or stroke-related complications. Moreover, by building a community volunteer network available to provide immediate support, we will also promote socially inclusive attitudes towards people with physical disabilities by raising public awareness of stroke survivors’ needs and demonstrating the support that we, the public, can offer to facilitate their recovery and reintegration into society.

With this project, we aim to benefit stroke survivors residing in the community. In addition to directly supporting post-stroke recovery, we will establish a trained team of lay and peer volunteers who are competent in delivering the COMBO-KEY and VMSCC in partnership with healthcare professionals.

2024

Healthcare, Well-being