The Effectiveness of an Educational Brochure on Exercise and a Motivational Telephone Support in Physical Activity Maintenance for Stroke Survivors

Study Design

This is a 4-week randomized controlled trial consisting of two groups: 1) participants who receive an educational brochure regarding physical activity after stroke, combined with motivational telephone support (intervention group), and 2) participants who receive the educational brochure alone (control group).

Interventions

Participants in the control group will be asked to devote approximately 30 minutes of their time to this study over the course of 4 weeks, and those in the intervention group will be involved for a total of 85 minutes.

1. Educational Brochure (both intervention and control groups): The educational brochure, Aerobic Exercise After Stroke, will be provided to all participants in the study. The brochure was created by researchers from the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery and written for a stroke audience. It was designed to educate individuals with stroke about the benefits of aerobic exercise, exercise intensity, and provide a sample program.
2. Motivational Telephone Support (intervention group only): Motivational telephone support is an inexpensive way of supplementing the educational brochure for facilitating physical activity behaviors by establishing a personal connection and providing ongoing support and motivation. Participants in the intervention group will receive a total of 4 phone calls that will take place at 1-week intervals. Each telephone session will last approximately 15 minutes, where issues regarding ongoing physical activity, such as relapses and road blocks, will be addressed. Also, ongoing motivation and support will be provided as needed to re-direct participants back onto the path of physical activity engagement.