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Rehabilitation in Practice

Goal setting practice in services delivering community-based stroke rehabilitation: a United Kingdom (UK) wide survey

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Pages 1291-1298 | Received 28 Feb 2014, Accepted 01 Sep 2014, Published online: 22 Sep 2014
 

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the nature of services providing community-based stroke rehabilitation across the UK, and goal setting practice used within them, to inform evaluation of a goal setting and action planning (G-AP) framework. Methods: We designed, piloted and electronically distributed a survey to health professionals working in community-based stroke rehabilitation settings across the UK. We optimised recruitment using a multi-faceted strategy. Results: Responses were analysed from 437 services. Services size, composition and input was highly variable; however, most were multi-disciplinary (82%; n = 335/407) and provided input to a mixed diagnostic group of patients (71%; n = 312/437). Ninety one percent of services (n = 358/395) reported setting goals with “all” or “most” stroke survivors. Seventeen percent (n = 65/380) reported that no methods were used to guide goal setting practice; 47% (n = 148/315) reported use of informal methods only. Goal setting practice varied, e.g. 98% of services (n = 362/369) reported routinely asking patients about goal priorities; 39% (n = 141/360) reported routinely providing patients with a copy of their goals. Conclusions: Goal setting is embedded within community-based stroke rehabilitation; however, practice varies and is potentially sub-optimal. Further evaluation of the G-AP framework is warranted to inform optimal practice. Evaluation design will take account of the diverse service models that exist.

    Implications for Rehabilitation

  • Community-based stroke rehabilitation services across the UK are diverse and tend to see a mixed diagnostic group of patients.

  • Goal setting is implemented routinely within community-based stroke rehabilitation services; however, practice is variable and potentially sub-optimal.

  • Further evaluation of the G-AP framework is warranted to assess its effectiveness in practice.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all respondents from community rehabilitation services across the UK who kindly completed this survey.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. This research was funded by the Chief Scientists Office grant number DTF/11/02.