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Designing a Toolkit to Help People Follow Stroke Rehabilitation Trial Plans

Gathers views to design a toolkit for stroke rehabilitation trials.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of Plymouth
Where
Plymouth, United KingdomSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Co-designing a Stroke Rehabilitation Trial Toolkit
Status
Enrolling by invitation
People taking part
38 people, planned
Started
26 Feb 2026
Expected to end
31 Dec 2027
Type of study
Observational, 6 groups
Treatments tested
  • Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit
Record updated
20 March 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for stroke survivors, their family or friends, stroke rehabilitation staff, healthcare leaders, researchers and research funders to help design a toolkit for stroke rehabilitation trials.

Age
Adults aged 18 and over.
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Stroke survivors must have had a stroke, with no time limit since the stroke, and must have had inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
Earlier treatment
Stroke survivors must have received inpatient stroke rehabilitation. They may or may not have taken part in a stroke rehabilitation trial before.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Stroke survivors with significant thinking or communication problems that prevent taking part, even with support
  • Stroke survivors who are medically unstable or currently in another research study that could affect this one
  • Family or friends with significant emotional distress that taking part would make worse
  • Staff with 6 months or less of NHS inpatient stroke rehabilitation experience
  • People who do not speak English (no language support is offered)

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 46 criteriaShow less

Other criteria

  • Participants will be eligible if they meet the following criteria:
  • 8.1.1 Inclusion criteria stroke survivors
  • Adults (aged 18+) who have experienced a stroke. No time limit since stroke
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Sufficient communication abilities (verbal or non-verbal, with or without support) to participate in co-design activities
  • Received inpatient stroke rehabilitation after their stroke
  • Has or has not previously participated in a stroke rehabilitation clinical trial during their hospital-based stroke rehabilitation
  • Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives; 8.1.2 Inclusion criteria family member/friend of stroke survivor
  • Adults (aged 18+) who are a family member, friend, or informal caregiver of a stroke survivor
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent
  • Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives; 8.1.3 Inclusion criteria stroke rehabilitation staff
  • Registered staff currently working in stroke rehabilitation who routinely prescribe and/or supporting stroke rehabilitation activities (e.g., physiotherapist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation nurses, rehabilitation physician)
  • ≥6 months of experience in hospital-based stroke rehabilitation settings
  • Employed in an organisation that provides NHS hospital-based stroke rehabilitation services
  • Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives; 8.1.4 Inclusion criteria healthcare leaders (e.g., Managers, Administrators, Policy Makers)
  • Individuals who are accountable and responsible for the operational, clinical, and/or strategic delivery of stroke rehabilitation, rehabilitation and/or therapy services within a NHS hospital
  • Individuals working in an Integrated Care Board with rehabilitation and/or research in their portfolio
  • Experience in implementing/influencing stroke rehabilitation policy/service delivery
  • Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives; 8.1.5 Inclusion criteria stroke rehabilitation researchers
  • Active researchers with experience in designing, conducting and evaluating stroke rehabilitation or physical rehabilitation research
  • Affiliated with academic or research institutions
  • Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives; 8.1.6 Inclusion criteria for funders
  • Currently employed, contracted to, or formally affiliated with a research funding organisation that reviews, commissions or funds stroke rehabilitation research (e.g., NIHR, Stroke Association, research councils, medical research councils, professional bodies or research charities)
  • Direct involvement in decision-making, monitoring or governance of stroke rehabilitation research within the past two years
  • Experience with funding processes related to stroke rehabilitation, rehabilitation or clinical trial oversight; 8.2 Exclusion Criteria; Participants will not be eligible if they meet any the following criteria:; 8.2.1 Exclusion criteria for stroke survivors
  • Significant cognitive and/or communication impairment that preclude meaningful participation, even with support
  • Exhibiting aggression or other behaviour issues that put themselves and others at risk
  • Medical instability that would make participation unsafe or overly burdensome
  • Currently enrolled in another research study that could confound participation or data collection
  • Non-English speaking (research study does not offer language support); 8.2.2 Exclusion criteria for family member/friend of stroke survivor
  • Not family member or friend of a stroke survivor
  • Significant emotional distress or trauma that would be exacerbated by participation
  • Non-English speaking (research study does not offer language support); 8.2.3 Exclusion criteria for stroke rehabilitation staff
  • Currently under disciplinary review or leave of absence
  • ≤6 experience in NHS inpatient stroke rehabilitation
  • Inability to commit time to the study activities; 8.2.4 Exclusion criteria for healthcare leaders (e.g., Managers, Administrators, Policy Makers)
  • Not in a leadership or decision-making role within an organisation that provides NHS inpatient stroke rehabilitation or rehabilitation/therapy services
  • Not working in an Integrated Care Board/System
  • No experience in implementing or influencing stroke rehabilitation policy or service delivery
  • Conflict of interest with study funders or researchers; 8.2.5 Exclusion criteria for stroke rehabilitation researchers
  • No direct experience with stroke or rehabilitation research in the past two years
  • No experience of hospital-based stroke or physical rehabilitation research in the past two years
  • Participation that would lead to conflicts of interest with the research team or funders; 8.2.6 Exclusion criteria for funders
  • Not employed by or formally affiliated with a research funding organisation that reviews, commissions or funds stroke rehabilitation research (e.g., NIHR, Stroke Association, research councils, medical research councils, professional bodies or research charities)
  • No direct involvement in decision-making, monitoring or governance of stroke rehabilitation research within the past two years
  • Conflict of interest with the research team or institutions delivering this study

Where in United Kingdom

  • University of Plymouth, Faculty of HealthPlymouth, United KingdomEnrolling by invitation

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Clinical trials are a type of research that tests if a treatment works well and is safe, so future care can be improved. In stroke rehabilitation, clinical trials are essential for improving the lives of stroke survivors. Clinical trials follow detailed plans called protocols, that explain what activities should be done, by whom and when. This makes sure everyone in the trial does things the same way, so results are fair and consistent. Sometimes, stroke survivors or staff may not follow the trial protocol exactly. For example, someone might miss a session or do different exercises. This is called low adherence. There are many reasons this can happen; the exercises or schedule may be too hard, the trial or activities do not match what stroke survivors or staff need, prefer, or find helpful in real life. If protocols are not followed properly, the trial results of clinical trials may not be reliable. This can slow down the process of getting better treatments into hospitals and make it harder to improve rehabilitation for future stroke survivors.

Read full original descriptionShow less

Previous research has looked at what helps and gets in the way of adhering to protocols during hospital-based stroke rehabilitation trials. The research has identified many factors, including the healthcare system, hospital environment, staff, patients and the rehabilitation activities or schedules. Most of this research focused on the views of staff involved, meaning important perspectives may be missing from others involved in stroke rehabilitation trials.

The investigators' study aims to change that. The investigators want to hear from people whose voices are often overlooked: stroke survivors, their family and friends, stroke rehabilitation staff and healthcare leaders working in the NHS, stroke rehabilitation researchers, staff working in Integrated Care Boards (who help plan and coordinate NHS services in local areas) and representatives from organisations who fund stroke rehabilitation research. The investigators will use a process called co-design. This means working together to develop a toolkit to help improve adherence in future stroke rehabilitation trials.

Toolkits are already used in healthcare to help people do things better. For example, changing how care is given, supporting patients, or helping health teams work more smoothly. But currently, there is no toolkit designed specifically to help improve adherence to stroke rehabilitation trial protocols.

This research aims to design a toolkit together. The toolkit will be shaped by a wide range of voices, especially those from underrepresented groups, and made in a way that's easy to understand and use.

By addressing potential barriers early on, the investigators hope the toolkit will make it easier for future stroke rehabilitation trials to succeed, leading to better recovery and quality of live for stroke survivors.

The 6 groups in the trial

  • Stroke survivors

    Stroke survivors aged 18 years and over

    Treatment: Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit

  • Stroke rehabilitation staff

    Staff with more than 6 months experience of working in inpatient stroke rehabilitation, e.g., nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, rehabilitation physician

    Treatment: Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit

  • Healthcare leaders

    Individuals who are accountable and responsible for the operational, clinical, and/or strategic delivery of stroke rehabilitation, rehabilitation and/or therapy services within a NHS hospital * Individuals working in an Integrated Care Board with rehabilitation and/or research in their portfolio * Experience in implementing/influencing stroke rehabilitation policy/service delivery

    Treatment: Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit

  • Stroke rehabilitation researchers

    Active researchers with experience in designing, conducting and evaluating stroke rehabilitation or physical rehabilitation research * Affiliated with academic or research institutions * Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives.

    Treatment: Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit

  • Stroke rehabilitation funders

    * Currently employed, contracted to, or formally affiliated with a research funding organisation that reviews, commissions or funds stroke rehabilitation research (e.g., NIHR, Stroke Association, research councils, medical research councils, professional bodies or research charities) * Direct involvement in decision-making, monitoring or governance of stroke rehabilitation research within the past two years * Experience with funding processes related to stroke rehabilitation, rehabilitation or clinical trial oversight

    Treatment: Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit

  • Family member or friend of stroke survivor

    * Adults (aged 18+) who are a family member, friend, or informal caregiver of a stroke survivor. * Able and willing to provide informed consent. * Willing to participate in co-design activities and share their perspectives.

    Treatment: Co-designing a stroke rehabilitation toolkit

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Co-designing a Toolkit to Optimise Adherence to Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Trial Protocols
Plain-language title
Designing a Toolkit to Help People Follow Stroke Rehabilitation Trial PlansGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Record updated
20 March 2026