Clinical Effect Size of an Educational Intervention in the Home and Compliance With a Smartphone-based Reminder on People Who Suffer From Stroke: a Protocol Study.

Background. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term neurological disability in the world. Cognitive, communication and physical weakness combined with environmental changes frequently cause changes in roles, routines and daily occupations. The educational intervention combines didactic and interactive intervention, which combines the best choice for teaching new behaviours since it involves the active participation of the patient in learning. Nowadays there are many types of intervention or means to increase adherence to treatment.

Methods. This study is a randomized clinical trial. Participants. The total sample will consist of 80 adults who have suffered a stroke with moderate severity and who have been discharged to their homes in the 3 months prior to recruitment to the study. Outcome variables. Barthel Index, the Functional Independence Measure, the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Canadian Neurological Scale, the Stroke Impact Scale-16, the Trunk Control Test, the Modified Rankin Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Quality of Life Scale for Stroke, the Functional Reach test, the Romberg test, the Time Up and Go, the Timed-Stands Test, a portable dynamometer and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data analysis. Descriptive analyses will include mean and 95% confidence intervals of the values for each variable. The Kolmogov-Smirnov (KS) test and a 2x2 mixed model ANOVA will be used. Intergroup effect sizes will be calculated (Cohen's d).

Sample Size Calculation A power analysis was conducted using the program G*Power 3.1. A priori, a sample of approximately 40 participants per group for the stage 1 intervention is needed to detect a significant difference (17.3 in the FIM) between the experimental group and the control group (effect size d=0.59, alpha=.05, beta=.08). The randomization will be performed by a blinded researcher.

Procedure. Stage 1 will begin with the collection of the participants' demographic data through a questionnaire and by conducting various tests to measure primary and secondary outcome variables. Subsequently, the ergonomics of the home and the implementation of ADL from both the experimental group and the control group will be assessed using the HTAS tool, which was developed by the authors. For the development of the tool, a literature review was performed using the PubMed electronic database and by reviewing different practice guides about stroke. Subsequently, the HTAS tool was evaluated by a panel of experts composed of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, caregivers, and patients.

Following the assessment of each participant's home and his or her performance of ADL, the therapist will provide the participants of the experimental group with a list of pieces of advice related to the HTAS items that were evaluated negatively. The advice will be aimed at changing the environment in which the participants execute the ADL. This may include facilitation in the execution of the ADL, promoting the active use of the affected side of the body in such execution, or to show them the most appropriate way of performing certain tasks according to their situation after the stroke.