Implementing ward-based practice books to increase the amount of practice completed during inpatient stroke rehabilitation : A mixed-methods process evaluation

Purpose
Stroke survivors must complete large amounts of practice to achieve functional improvements but spend many hours inactive during their rehabilitation. We conducted a mixed methods process evaluation exploring factors affecting the success of a 6-month behaviour change intervention to increase use of ward-based practice books.

Methods
Audits of the presence, quality and use of ward based-practice books were conducted, alongside focus groups with staff (n = 19), and interviews with stroke survivors (n = 3) and family members (n = 4). Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Focus group and interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative analysis.

Results
Personal (patient-related) factors (including severe weakness, cognitive and communication deficits of stroke survivors), staff coaching skills, understanding and beliefs about their role, affected practice book use. Staff turnover, nursing shift work and a lack of action planning reduced success of the behaviour change intervention.

Conclusions
Staff with the necessary skills and understanding of their role in implementing ward practice overcame personal (patient-related) factors and assisted stroke survivors to successfully practice on the ward. To improve success of the intervention, repeated training of new staff is required. In addition to audit and feedback, team action planning is needed around the presence, quality, and use of ward practice books.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Ward-based practice books are one evidence-based strategy that can be used by rehabilitation teams to increase the amount of practice completed by stroke survivors during inpatient rehabilitation.

• Stroke survivors’ personal factors (including severe weakness, cognitive and communication deficits), staff beliefs about their role and coaching skills, affected stroke survivors ability to practice on the ward using practice books.

• Staff with the necessary skills, understanding and belief about their role in implementing ward practice can overcome personal (patient related) factors (such as severe weakness) and assist stroke survivors to successfully practice on the ward.

• To increase the success of ward practice, repeated booster training of staff is required along with audit and feedback and team action planning on the presence, quality, and use of ward practice books.

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

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