Telerehabilitation coaching program for people after ischemic stroke

The Effect of Telerehabilitation-Based Coaching Interventions (TeleSCoP) on Self-Efficacy, Modifiable Risk Factors, and Repeated Hospitalizations in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

This program tests whether discharge education plus a three-month telerehabilitation coaching package helps adults 45+ who had an ischemic stroke improve self-management, lower modifiable risk factors, and reduce repeat hospital visits.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 45 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Akdeniz University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Antalya)
• Trial ID: NCT05940350 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial compares usual post-stroke care with a telerehabilitation-based coaching intervention (TeleSCoP). Participants receive an education booklet and one-on-one face-to-face teaching in clinic on day 4–5, set individual goals using motivational interviewing, and are sent educational videos; the intervention includes seven remote coaching sessions over three months with weekly and monthly monitoring and monthly follow-up. Outcomes measured include patient self-efficacy, modifiable vascular risk factors (blood pressure, lipids, triglycerides, HbA1c, BMI, smoking, alcohol) and repeat hospitalizations. The program is delivered in Turkish and requires phone or email access for remote contacts.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Turkish-speaking adults aged 45 or older with an ischemic stroke, oriented to place/time/person, a Modified Rankin Scale score of 0–3 at discharge, no major communication or cognitive barriers, and access to a phone/email and caregiver support as needed.

Not a fit: Patients with severe aphasia, dementia or major cognitive impairment, non-vascular or cryptogenic stroke etiologies, severe comorbid or terminal illness, or without phone/internet or caregiver support are unlikely to benefit from this telerehabilitation coaching.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could boost patients' confidence in managing recovery, improve cardiovascular risk factors, and reduce the likelihood of rehospitalization.

How similar studies have performed: Prior telerehabilitation and coaching studies after stroke have shown promising gains in function and self-management, but evidence for durable risk-factor control and reductions in rehospitalization is mixed.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged 45 years and older who had a stroke (the etiology of ischemic stroke can be seen at an earlier age due to hematological conditions, such as sickle cell anemia, polycythemia vera, factor deficiencies, vasculitis, and arterial dissection).
* Comply with TOAST classification criteria
* A score of "0,1,2,3" according to the Modified Rankin Scale at discharge
* Place, time, person orientation
* No communication barrier
* Turkish-speaking writer
* Having a contact phone (for phone calls)
* Support can be obtained from first-degree situations)
* Having no barriers to answering questions physically and mentally

Exclusion Criteria:

* Stroke of cryptogenic (etiology unknown) or non-vascular origin (tumor)
* Have a diagnosed mental or psychiatric illness\*
* With dementia and cognitive deficit\*
* Clinically musculoskeletal or other neurological diseases\*
* With severe aphasia and dysarthria\*
* With terminal illness\*
* Those who score ≥ 10 according to the LACE index
* Patients whose information cannot be accessed will not be included in the study.

Where this trial is running

Antalya

• Akdeniz University Hospital — Antalya, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Hicran Bektas, PhD, RN — Akdeniz University
• Study coordinator: Kamile Topcu, MSc

Conditions Ischemic Stroke; Coaching; Coaching Interventions; Nursing; Randomized Controlled Trial; Modifiable Risk Factors