MLAS Pilot

A self-management programme for people who have experienced a stroke

Background

Survivors of stroke tell us of many long-term problems. The My Life After Stroke (MLAS) programme aims to address a feeling of abandonment after discharge and address patient and carers’ information and knowledge needs surrounding many aspects of stroke and stroke care. Over the past year, we have developed the MLAS programme with help from stroke survivors, their carers, health care professionals and support groups.

Aim

The MLAS programme aims to enable stroke survivors and their carers to be better informed about stroke, how to cope with its effects, and how best to reduce risk of further stroke. The aim of this study is to test the acceptability and feasibility of the MLAS programme for stroke survivors (and their carers).

Method

We will run up to 6 MLAS programmes with 6-8 stroke survivors in each programme, some with carers, recruited from GP practices within Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland and Cambridgeshire. Participants will follow the MLAS programme which consists of 2 individual sessions and 4 group-based sessions covering topics under the categories of stroke prevention, information, social needs and psychological issues. Two trained facilitators will run these sessions and tools for measuring intervention fidelity will be used.

Recruitment rates and attendance at the MLAS programme will be recorded. Data will be collected on several possible outcome measures which will inform a future, larger randomised controlled trial. We will gain feedback from participants and facilitators. We will use tools to measure intervention fidelity.