Goal setting practice in services delivering community-based stroke rehabilitation: a United Kingdom (UK) wide survey

Goal setting is great but what would be even more important would be goal results. If you don't even know how badly you are missing your stroke rehabilitation goals you can never get them corrected. YOU will have to demand this as the next step since otherwise this will not get done and you as a stroke survivor will be negatively affected.
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09638288.2014.961652

Address for correspondence:

Lesley Scobbie, MSc

, Clinical Research Fellow, NMAHP Research Unit,

Unit 13, Scion House, Innovation Park, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4NF, Scotland

, UK. Tel: 01786 466115. E-mail: Lesley.scobbie@stir.ac.uk

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the nature of services providing community-based stroke rehabilitation across the UK, and goal setting practice used within them, to inform evaluation of a goal setting and action planning (G-AP) framework. 

Methods: We designed, piloted and electronically distributed a survey to health professionals working in community-based stroke rehabilitation settings across the UK. We optimised recruitment using a multi-faceted strategy. Results: Responses were analysed from 437 services. Services size, composition and input was highly variable; however, most were multi-disciplinary (82%; n = 335/407) and provided input to a mixed diagnostic group of patients (71%; n = 312/437). Ninety one percent of services (n = 358/395) reported setting goals with “all” or “most” stroke survivors. Seventeen percent (n = 65/380) reported that no methods were used to guide goal setting practice; 47% (n = 148/315) reported use of informal methods only. Goal setting practice varied, e.g. 98% of services (n = 362/369) reported routinely asking patients about goal priorities; 39% (n = 141/360) reported routinely providing patients with a copy of their goals. 

Conclusions: Goal setting is embedded within community-based stroke rehabilitation; however, practice varies and is potentially sub-optimal. Further evaluation of the G-AP framework is warranted to inform optimal practice. Evaluation design will take account of the diverse service models that exist.Implications for Rehabilitation

• Community-based stroke rehabilitation services across the UK are diverse and tend to see a mixed diagnostic group of patients.
• Goal setting is implemented routinely within community-based stroke rehabilitation services; however, practice is variable and potentially sub-optimal.
• Further evaluation of the G-AP framework is warranted to assess its effectiveness in practice.

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