Therapists acting as data collectors in a post stroke research project – a door to development

ABSTRACT

The present study aims to explore how a new assignment in an otherwise familiar context is experienced by rehabilitation team members. 

Methods

Participants in the present study were eight clinically experienced occupational therapists and physiotherapists who collected data in an observational longitudinal study of the rehabilitation process after stroke. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using content analysis. The transcripts revealed the informants’ perspectives and their experiences of follow-ups in the patient’s home. 

Results

There was one main category, a door to development, and three subcategories: the entrance, discovery in place, and the exit. All informants expressed that they had gained new knowledge of the situation of people who have had a stroke and that taking part in research uncovered a wider perspective of the patients’ situations and the importance of follow-ups in general. 

Conclusion

New insights into the patients’ situation with clinical implications for interprofessional care can be gained by collecting data in a research project that is related to, but different from, everyday clinical practice. Such an assignment can be experienced as professionally rewarding, and we propose that offering such a role change/transition may open the door to development for rehabilitation team members.

KEYWORDS:

• Data collection
• holistic
• home visits
• interprofessional team
• professional role
• stroke rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our special thanks and gratitude to the informants for sharing experiences of their dedicated work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the County Council and Karolinska Institutet regional agreement on medical training and clinical research (ALF)[20060700]