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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Sep 8;24(1):181.
doi: 10.1186/s12875-023-02138-x.

Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) influence on lifestyle changes of home bound familial Malaysian stroke caregivers: a randomised controlled trial in a primary care based longer term stroke care facility

Radhiyah Hussin  1   2 , Aznida Firzah Abdul Aziz  3 , Mohd Fairuz Ali  1 , Ezura Madiana Md Monoto  1 , H S Arvinder-Singh  4   5 , Alabed Ali Ahmed Alabed  6 , Wan Asyraf Wan Zaidi  7 , Norlinah Mohamed Ibrahim  7 ; FRCPE
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) influence on lifestyle changes of home bound familial Malaysian stroke caregivers: a randomised controlled trial in a primary care based longer term stroke care facility

Radhiyah Hussin et al. BMC Prim Care. .

Abstract

Background: In countries where access to Specialist stroke care services are limited, primary care physicians often manage stroke patients and the caregiving family members. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) on promoting healthier lifestyles among familial stroke caregivers for primary prevention.

Methods: A parallel, open-label, 2-arm prospective, pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted at a long-term stroke service at a university based primary care clinic. All stroke caregivers aged ≥ 18 years, proficient in English or Malay and smartphone operation were invited. From 147 eligible caregivers, 76 participants were randomised to either SRA™ intervention or conventional care group (CCG) after receiving standard health counselling. The intervention group had additional SRA™ installed on their smartphones, which enabled self-monitoring of modifiable and non-modifiable stroke risk factors. The Stroke Riskometer app (SRATM) and Life's Simple 7 (LS7) questionnaires assessed stroke risk and lifestyle practices. Changes in clinical profile, lifestyle practices and calculated stroke risk were analysed at baseline and 3 months. The trial was registered in the Australia-New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12618002050235.

Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics of the intervention and control group study participants were comparable. Better improvement in LS7 scores were noted in the SRA™ arm compared to CCG at 3 months: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.88 (1.68-0.08), p = 0.03. However, both groups did not show significant changes in median stroke risk and relative risk scores at 5-, 10-years (Stroke risk 5-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.53 (0.15-1.21), p = 0.13, 10-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.81 (0.53-2.15), p = 0.23; Relative risk 5-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.84 (0.29-1.97), p = 0.14, Relative risk 10-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.58 (0.36-1.52), p = 0.23).

Conclusion: SRA™ is a useful tool for familial stroke caregivers to make lifestyle changes, although it did not reduce personal or relative stroke risk after 3 months usage.

Trial registration: No: ACTRN12618002050235 (Registration Date: 21st December 2018).

Keywords: Caregiver; Informal caregiver; Stroke; Stroke rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flow chart (CONSORT protocol)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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