Also in this section

• Studies & Trials
• Familial Intracranial Aneurysm - FIA
• Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial - INTERACT
• Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial - ONTARGET
• Psychosocial Outcomes in Stroke - POISE
• QUality Evaluation of Stroke Care and Treatment - ChinaQUEST
• The Second Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial - INTERACT2
• Sleep Apnea CardioVascular Endpoints Study - SAVE
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Stroke - SEDS
• Sydney Epilepsy Incidence Study to Measure Illness Consequences
• Trends in Stroke Incidence and Impact in Populations

Psychosocial Outcomes in Stroke - POISE

Background

The unrecognised burden of stroke in younger adults

Each year, approximately 12,000 Australians of working age survive a stroke.

As a group, younger stroke survivors (<65 years) have less physical impairment and much lower mortality after stroke compared with older survivors - however, the psychosocial disability and economic hardship they experience is substantial.

Most of these younger stroke survivors are responsible for generating an income or providing family care and their primary objective is to return to work. However, effective vocational rehabilitation strategies to increase the proportion of younger stroke survivors able to return to work, and information on the key target areas for those strategies, are currently lacking.

Aims

The primary aim of this project is to determine if modifiable early (within 28 days of stroke) psychosocial factors are associated with return to work at one year in younger stroke survivors.

The secondary aim is to determine the economic impact of not returning to work for younger stroke survivors and their families.

In addition, we will use these data to inform intervention strategies to increase the proportion of stroke survivors able to return to work.

Method

The proposed study is a prospective cohort study of younger (<65 years) stroke survivors to be conducted over three years (2008—2010) in New South Wales, Australia. Participants will be recruited from the New South Wales Stroke Services (SSNSW) network - a cohesively operating and managed, network of acute stroke units. In total, 440 participants will be recruited from stroke units over a 12-month period.

Status

The study has received funding from NHMRC Project Grant. Recruitment commenced in October 2008 and the study is currently recruiting at 19 NSW Stroke Services sites.

Institute Investigators

• Maree Hackett
• Nick Glozier
• Stephen Jan
• Craig Anderson

Project Manager

• Marianne Byrne

Collaborators

• New South Wales Stroke Services (SSNSW)
• The University of Sydney

Funders

• National Health and Medical Research Council