Adapting the Bridges stroke self-management programme for use in Australia

Abstract

This study explored the applicability of the UK Bridges stroke self-management programme (SSMP) for use in an Australian healthcare context, and specifically, the need for any modification to the workbook tool. Method: Data were collected via survey from Australian stroke professionals who had attended a two day Bridges training workshop and from focus groups with community based stroke survivors across three different States. Results: Eighteen of 30 workshop attendees (60%) completed the electronic survey. Most (94%) agreed that the training had advanced their practice with a stronger focus on self management principles and that they would recommend the training to colleagues. The majority (71%) had incorporated some Bridges SSMP principles or strategies into their practice; although 81% reported a range of barriers to doing so. Twenty six stroke survivors attended focus groups. The workbook was considered to be a useful tool to support selfmanagement. Suggestions for change included the addition of some culturally contextualized patient stories and locally relevant stroke support resources. Conclusions: Stroke survivors and health professionals recognised the need for structured training, such as the Bridges SSMP, to develop self-management skills and knowledge post stroke. The Bridges SSMP workbook would be able to be used in Australia with minor modification.

Building Bridges between People with Stroke, Families, and Health Professionals: Development of a Blended Care Program for Self-Management

“…Findings from stage one suggest that Portuguese people with stroke may benefit from learning through real-world experiences, strategies recommended by peers, and features addressing specific needs related to record-keeping (including reflections on action and record of small successes of the recovery process), scheduling or medication management. Similar findings were obtained in previous research [ 59 , 61 ] aimed to adapt the Bridges SSMP to other contexts, with participants consistently mentioning how the stories had inspired them or given them ideas on how to approach various situations they encountered during their rehabilitation. Moreover, providing the triad with the opportunity to implement a collaborative goal-setting approach and set meaningful goals was pointed out by participants as highly useful in supporting self-management during the rehabilitation process.…”

“…Emphasis is particularly directed toward language employed during interactions with people with stroke, as well as through the effective utilization of self-management tools [ 58 ]. Bridges SSMP has been implemented widely across the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and Estonia, with good results for implementation, feasibility and acceptability [ 56 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 61 ].…”

Exploring self-management within hospital-based stroke care: current and future opportunities

“…The second theme identified various beliefs about readiness for self-management, with clinicians suggesting that this varied significantly between individuals. It has previously been demonstrated that clients and clinicians alike report differing ideas regarding the best time to commence [29,[33][34][35] and that a standardised approach is considered to be ineffective due to the individualised nature of self-management [33]. Some individuals may demonstrate readiness to engage in self-management soon after stroke and evidence demonstrates that self-management support at this stage is feasible [14,15].…”